Happy Homemaker Monday - 27 January 2020

I like to try and join in with Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for her Happy Homemaker Monday at least once a month.

The more hours I've been working, the less homemaker-y I've been feeling. Be that as it may, my actual, real-life schedule is to work 10 hours/week, which I maintain makes me a homemaker more than anything else. Luckily we have cleaning people in every other week, or things would be getting a bit unpleasant here. I've worked an average of 18.5 hours/week since school started in September. Yay for paychecks to pay for Disney in March, but boo for my lack of sanity because I'm spread too thin.


::the weather outside is::

Since my biggest goal is avoiding snow, I'll take it. While theoretically hubs would be thrilled for real snow on Saturday (usually a skiing day for him), he'll be out of state driving a racecar this weekend. I'll be at home, hunkering down and keeping warm :)


::right now i am::

Waiting for my rather late lunch to hit my belly. Mondays are the hardest day to work through lunch (I'm a lunch-lady, so it's kind of unavoidable). Once I finish this post, I'll snuggle under a blanket and read til it's time to go get the kids.


::thinking::

I'm just focusing on staying ahead of my to-do list tasks. We've got a lot coming up between now and spring break, and it would drive me crazy to not have it all done, and done well. So FOCUS.


::on my reading pile::

Just finished The Girls with No Names and want to write my 4 star review. Excellent book.
I finished reading that last night, and now started on Hope Rides Again that I've borrowed from the library for my kindle. Super amusing, as expected.
Next will be The Third to Die.


::on my tv::

Hubs and I finished Good Girls (season 2) last weekend. Can't wait for season 3 next month! We're debating trying to catch up on Gotham, but when we sat down where we left off, we were confused. So we may need some time to review first. In other news, my son LOVES The Loud House and the theme song is stuck in my head. Again.


::on the menu this week::

Monday - City Chicken (Jack's favorite)
Tuesday - YOYO (you're on your own)
Wednesday - Tacos
And that's the end of menu planning for the week. When hubs travels, the kids and I just eat whatever, whenever.


::on my to-do list::

• Write and post review for The Girls with No Names
• Write intro for Jack's variety show routine (he's reading a spoonerism)
• Order last of Disney gift cards to pay for trip
• Finish reading and reviewing Hope Rides Again
• Laundry & dishes. Always laundry and dishes.

::looking around the house::

I got a fabulous new shelf for the corner of my dining area. It's one of those shelves made to hold the 13" fabric cubes. I put my CD player on the top, and brought some CDs up from basement storage so I can listen to music while I work at the table. It makes me happy.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 30 December 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday for the last Monday of the month..the year...the decade! Join me and other bloggers at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for our Happy Homemaker Monday posts.

It's still that funny time, between Christmas and New Years, with no school and very few commitments. What day is it? Should I be awake? Do I need pants? A whole new set of issues I could really get used to. And yesterday we had unbelievable fog - all day long! You could never really tell what time of day it was, and as I told my daughter, it looked like a perfect day to be living in a zombie movie!

I've still got the rest of this week off of work, but I think hubs goes back January 2. We just this morning made plans for New Years' Eve (tomorrow night) - my favorite kind of plans. Low key, hanging out with neighbors and enjoying lots of munchies. Only time will tell if we even make it til midnight to ring in 2020.

::the weather outside is::

Headlines are promising snow tomorrow to get people all fired up. The reality is maybe 1 - 2" around here, and the possibility of 2 - 4" in the northern part of Michigan. Which is to say, no snow worth speaking of. I'm totally onboard as I hate driving in it and feel trapped once there's snow on the ground.

::right now i am::

Finishing up the last of a mini-loaf of cherry bread a co-worker made for me. Great breakfast, for someone who usually works through breakfast. Also finishing up the last piece or two of delicious cocoa fudge before the kids' friends come over in an hour or two. I don't want to say I don't like to share, but....

::thinking::

My brain is like all over the place lately. I'm going to bring down the stickers and do some decorating in my 2020 planner. I'm thinking through what regular posts I want to do for my blog next year, and deciding on a format for book reviews, since I want to do them on my blog as well as posting them as a guest reviewer at Books I Think You Should Read.

::on my reading pile::

Just started reading First Cut by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell.

After I finish and review this, I'll probably go do a read of one of my daughter's Middle School Battle of the Books books. I haven't read any of them yet, and want to finish all of them by the battle in early February.

Once I get one of those out, I've got a couple more on my list with January publication dates.





::on my tv::

Hubby and I have been really enjoying the new season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

::favorite blog post this week::

I'm really loving watching the best books posts on blogs and on GoodReads by all of my book bloggers and reading friends. You can find my best of list here (and everything I've read this year here). Next year I want to figure out how to do the really cool collage of book covers.

::on the menu this week::

Monday - Ravioli with white sauce and garlic bread (the garlic bread because it's the only thing my eight-year-old will eat from the meal. LOL)
Tuesday - New Years' Eve! I'm bringing some chicken dip with chips, shrimp dip with wheat thins, and monkey bread. Grocery shopping (i.e. payday) is tomorrow, so I may grab anything else that looks munchie and good too.
Wednesday - Everyone usually likes tacos
Thursday - Boy child does love some city chicken (mock chicken legs)
Friday - the first pizza and a movie of 2020! Also lots more good munchies, since my daughter is having two friends to spend the night.

::on my to-do list::

• write a blog post with 2020 goals
• finish writing review for Lost Hills by Lee Goldberg (4 stars!)
• keep working on my office so I can work comfortably there

::what i am cross-stitching now::

Still the same owls :) I haven't forgotten about them, but I usually use my time to crank out more reading/reviews instead.

::homemaking tips::

Live alone. LOL 

If my children would take a homemaking tip to heart, I would LOVE if they would put things away when they're done. And if my husband would take care of things that he didn't use, if he's doing something there anyway (he puts his dishes in the dishwasher, but overlooks any left in the sink).

::looking around the house::

Today we're just clearing as much clutter as possible, since the cleaning people come tomorrow. Later this week we'll get all the Christmas stuff back to the basement. I'm over it now, but everyone else wants it up past New Years.

::from the camera::

My camera is so boring now. I've taken a picture of the tag in my good work jeans (so I could get more, but Old Navy doesn't make their 'Original' style anymore. Jerks) and my Essie nail polish collection (so I could get a new color to wear this break, but ran out of money anyway). Last weekend I had a picture of my daughter's favorite make-up primer sample (so I could get her more for Christmas - done!).

Happy Homemaker Monday - 18 November 2019

Happy Monday! I love Mondays for their predictability.  Whether the weekend is good, bad, or somewhere in between, Monday is frequently pretty similar to the Monday before it. I'm used to it, and I like that.

Our weekend was pretty good. While I planned on catching up on some errands and such on Saturday, Maggie and I barely got to the grocery store before we were summoned to join her cousin and his family at Peppa Pig World of Play. And who can pass that up??

So Sunday we got to finally go finish grocery shopping, and I finished reading Mama Hissa's Mice and writing its review so I can start reading another one. LOL

I'm happy to be joining Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday today. Check out the linky list on her site for some other great blogs.


::the weather outside is::

Finally a bit warmer! And it looks like we're dodging snow for a little while. It's still Michigan, so I know it'll be back, but I'll take a bit of respite now.

::on the breakfast plate::

Who are we kidding? I don't eat breakfast. I start each morning with a can of Cherry Coke and my meds. Done. Then I take my water bottle into work with me, and do some snacking once I get home. So to sort of answer the question, I've had some Better Made Sweet BBQ chips so far today.

::as I look outside my window::

The snow looks a bit pretty, I guess. I'm glad the ice is finally off the road. The sun is shining  beautifully today!

::right now I am::

Writing up this blog post. I figured since I like to check in on the other blogs that join this linky, I try to participate at least once a month. 

::as I look around the house::

I'll need to flit around for a bit, carrying things from here to there and cleaning up the counters and such. I also need to find my winter holiday smelly decoration to replace the Halloween one. The kids are excited to do some holiday decorating, so I need to clear up some of the clutter first.

::on today's to-do list::

Clearing up the clutter, as I said. I also need to do some laundry, but it will wait til this afternoon after Maggie gets her stuff out of the dryer. Mostly, I plan to read today. I'm happy to be back on a book on my Kindle, so I can curl up with a cat and a cozy blanket while I read.

::on this week's to-do list::

Today and tomorrow are my most free days. Wednesday - Friday I'm serving lunch as a substitute at the school. Not really building up to much right now. I opted out of hosting Thanksgiving next week, so I've just got to make a few pies, and I got the ingredients while grocery shopping yesterday.

::on the menu this week::

Monday: Tacos

Tuesday: Hubby will probably be working his fun job. When he doesn't come home for dinner, we just make whatever. The two kids and I don't eat enough to make a new entree.

Wednesday: The kids have baton practice til 8pm, so we'll probably just wing it again, unless hubby wants to make some pork chops (one of his specialties) to be ready when we get home.

Thursday: Hubby will probably be gone at the fun job again.

Friday: The kids and I love pizza and a movie for Friday nights :)

::currently reading:;

Just started Day Zero by Kelly deVos. I also just got The Power by Naomi Alderman on loan from the library, so I'll need to get into that one pretty quickly here too. 

::on tv this week::

Hubs and I are watching Gotham. Actually, we're re-watching season 3, then watching season 4 and 5 is the plan. We couldn't remember where we left off, and 4 didn't feel familiar from the first episode, so we went back one. Sadly (or not?) I don't remember enough from watching the first time to be bored by re-watching. Huh.

::what I am creating at the moment::

I've still got a counted cross-stitch in process. I enjoy it, but reading is usually easier.

:: new recipe I want to try this week::

Ugh - I'm totally open to suggestions. My family doesn't really like anything I make. LOL 

::favorite photo from the camera::

Here's a picture of my daughter Maggie and one of our cats. It's probably Sparrow (not Wren) because Sparrow likes her much better. That being said, I still don't think they finished reading the whole book. ;)

Happy Homemaker Monday - 21 October 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday! I'm joining the group over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom in updating you all on my week/weekend as part of Happy Homemaker Monday. Enjoy!

I like doing posts like this not only to finally get some words flowing on my blog, but also as an interesting post to check back on later. Sort of a 'slice of life,' really, to remember how my time is spent, when looking back it feels like nothing is happening.




::the weather outside is::

I'm so happy the weather was nice for the weekend! I worried that the showers later on today would move back even a day - and then we would have missed our last boat ride for the season (Saturday), or our trick-or-treating and train ride at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad yesterday! We lucked out and it was a BEAUTIFUL weekend. We'll be just fine paying the price later today. ;)


::on the breakfast plate this morning::
Nothing, as usual. I try to drink lots of water (thanks, Cirkul!) during my shift at work, then spend a bit of time deciding what sounds good for lunch.


::as i look outside my window::
I see a gorgeous, crisp, fall day. The sun is shining so far, and more than half the trees have changed to red, gold, and orange leaves.


::right now i am::
Writing this blog post, obvs. Later on I'm hoping to read some, maybe do a bit of counted cross-stitch, and hopefully return our bottles/cans and get some more groceries. We'll see if I find my motivation...


::as i look around the house::
It looks pretty under control. The cleaning company comes on Wednesday, so I'll try and clear some clutter in the next couple days. I'd also like to update my decorate air fresheners for the holiday in a couple weeks, and to make it smell fall-y.


::on today's to-do list::
Well, I feel like I may have already ruined any surprises here. Hahahaha... I want to read, do some counted cross-stitch, get some groceries... After I pick up the kids from their activities, we've got an invite to visit the local library's haunted house, and then a fundraiser dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. If I remember, once I'm done for the night I should put a load of denim in the washing machine.


::on the menu this week::
Monday: Buffalo Wild Wings
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday is always popular here
Wednesday: I got a new chicken chili recipe today that I'll try out on Wednesday
Thursday: YOYO - we've got the school's Halloween party scheduled tonight, so we'll either grab some quick carry-out, or we can make do with whatever is around.
Friday: I heard this morning from my daughter that we have a family Halloween party this night!


::currently reading::
Just finished Michelle Obama's Becoming last night (LOVED it!)
Just started Firewall: An Emma Streat Mystery by Eugenia Lovett West (for review) and
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan (from the library).


::on the tv today::
I was all ready to skip this one, but I haven't watched Hocus Pocus yet this month. I think I may throw that one in the Blue-ray player for background noise this afternoon.


::what i am creating now::
I want to keep working on my counted cross-stitch (it's a picture of owls that I think I started like two years ago, but just picked up again). I also need to help my son 'create' the thank you cards from his birthday party a couple weeks ago.




::new recipe to try this week::
One of the teachers from school shared this one that she made for the chili cook-off we had last week. I didn't get to visit the actual cook-off, but her chili was popular! I figured I'll give it a try. It's called Easy Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili from Yummy Healthy Easy.





::favorite photo from the camera::
I promised myself I'd take more pictures on our family outing yesterday. I think I did snap a few more than usual - go, me!!

Here's my lil Ashe Ketchum (Pokemon trainer) catching a Charmander with his Poke-ball!

Happy Homemaker Monday - 7/29/19 edition

Happy Monday! I'm joining up with Diary of a Stay at Home Mom this week for Happy Homemaker Monday.

This week is sort of our week off, if you will. Last week Jack had On Your Mark Youth Fitness camp, and next week Maggie has Young Americans camp. So this week started with glorious nothing, but we now have lunch plans on Tuesday and Wednesday, and meeting friends at the zoo on Thursday. Today, though? I'm not going anywhere!

The weather::
I've been watching the forecast trying to plan our zoo trip for Thursday. Last week they were calling for rain, but now it looks like the thunderstorms are just today. And I honestly like watching  thunderstorms, so one is fine with me.


Breakfast::
Maggie had a friend sleep over last night, so I made cinnamon rolls for the kids this morning. Yum!

Right now::
I just finished writing my review for At the Narrow Waist of the World.  I'm getting ready to review How to Read a Book once I'm done with this post. I'm also hoping to work on a stitching project.

On my reading pile::
Starting Off the Grid next. It published on July 2. Next up will be a memoir I received that will officially publish in August. And I keep itching to order The Handmaid's Tale graphic novel. One of these days it will end up in my Amazon cart. Hahaha....


Movies/Shows/TV::
Hubs and I are working through the final season of Orange is the New Black. I also read that the Deadwood movie has released. And of course there will be a new episode of The Handmaid's Tale this week.

On the menu this week::
Monday - Taco Salad
Tuesday - Chicken with stuffing
Wednesday - Spaghetti or Hamburger Helper
Wednesday is also payday, so I'll do some grocery shopping and menu plan for the rest of the week and next week. Sort of. Hubby and Maggie are headed to a boat race, so no cooking for me and Jack this weekend. :D

On my to-do list::
The cleaning people come on Wednesday, so I'll make sure things are straightened up by then.
Also need to strip the beds, wash the sheets, make the beds..
I'm waiting to hear if we'll be hosting two of the college students with the Young Americans program for next week. If so, I'll have a bit more prep for that.

From the camera::

Last night Maggie had a friend over, and we all headed to the local Round 1. The girls and hubby played a game of bowling, and Jack and I spent an hour in the arcade. One of his favorites is Mario Kart.


What I'm wearing today::
Jeans and a t-shirt. Skipped the shower this morning so I could get right to making cinnamon rolls for the short people.

One of my simple pleasures::
The kids and I made pineapple upside down cupcakes over the weekend. I haven't seen anyone else eat any of them, so I've got my work cut out for me! I think they're delicious, so I don't want them to go to waste. ;)

Happy Homemaker Monday - 6/24/19 edition

I've lost all track of what day it is. LOL But hubby was here and left early this morning, so it must be a work day after a weekend...Monday! 

I finally finished scoring tests on Friday (right on schedule!). I was originally finishing last Monday, but another project was running behind, so I got four more days of work out of the deal - yay!

We're pretty open today, but making sure everything is ready for us to go to the Great Lakes Regional baton competition next weekend. Two days of competition for our little twirler - go, Maggie!

And now, I'm joining in again with Happy Homemaker Monday at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom (love her logo, btw!).

Weather::
Looks like summer may finally be about here. Yesterday was gorgeous! Today, is rainy :( Whatever. Hahaha...

Reading::
Just started Girl Unknown by Karen Perry last night. Finished Puddin' by Julie Murphy over the weekend.

Movies or Shows from this weekend::
The kids and I watched the new Overboard yesterday morning (on Hulu, maybe?) and then got Wonder Park from the Redbox to enjoy with pizza dinner. Jack and I saw Wonder Park over spring break at the theater. He wanted to make sure his sister got to see it too.

TV for this week::
The only thing we're currently watching is the Handmaid's Tale, and hubs leaves town for a race before we'll have a chance to watch the new episode (released on Wednesday). So nothing but the kids' video games on our TV, I suppose.

Menu Plan for this week::
Tonight - Sloppy Joes
Tomorrow - Tacos
Wednesday - Kielbasa and something (either pierogis or noodles)
After Wednesday, we'll just be winging it. Hubby leaves for his race late Wednesday or early Thursday, and then the kids and Mimi and I head to the baton compeition on Friday.

My to-do list::

• All laundry has to be up-to-date for us to pack. 
• Move my rose bush to a sunnier spot (I'm really nervous about this one!)
• Clean the bathrooms (already delegated the smaller one to the kids for today)
• Oh! Need to go get new shoes to go with my daughter's pageant dress. She's gotten a couple judge comments that we need something other than black shoes with her light blue dress.

Looking forward to::

A fun weekend with my mom and the kids at the Great Lakes Regional baton competition. Also, lunch at Patty Burger with a great friend tomorrow. Oh, and seeing my rose bush bloom more in the sun.

Looking around the house::

Glad I finally got one potted plant to put on the deck. I love my flowers off the front porch, but I'm usually sitting at the back of the house when I have stuff to get done. 

Ordered new litter boxes for the cats. We're LOVING the Kitty Poo Club.

What I'm wearing today::

Haven't decided yet. LOL After I finish this, a shower is coming up quick on my list. Since it's kind of overcast and I need to do a few things in the yard, I may go for jeggings so I get less bug bites.

My simple pleasures::

Definitely reading and drinking a Cherry Coke. If it's warm enough, on the front porch.

Happy Homemaker Monday - 6/10/19 edition

This is the last week of school for our district! Our house sort of revolves around the school year, since both kids are in the local schools, and I work at the closest elementary to us. While I love working with the kids, I'm really looking foward to sleeping in!

While we wind down for the summer, it's also an exceptionally crazy week since both hubby and I celebrate our birthdays (his is Wednesday, mine is Thursday) and then we take Maggie to baton camp on Sunday, which is Fathers' Day! Whew!

It's been a while, but I'm back for another round of Happy Homemaker Monday with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Since I figure I only am scheduled to work 10 hours/week outside my home, my first (and always most important) job is stay-at-home and work-from-home mom.

Weather::
I'm thrilled to finally be seeing some summer-ness. Of course, I'm accompanying my daughter on a zoo field trip on Thursday...

TBR {to be read}::
I just last night started Losing Brave by Bailee Madison & Stefne Miller. I've also uploaded Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King to my Kindle.
Watch this space in a few days for a summary of what I read in May.

On my TV this week::
Hubs and I finished up the first three episodes of Season Three of The Handmaid's Tale. The next episode will be released by Hulu on Wednesday. Can't wait!
While scoring, I watched a bit of Baby Driver (a favorite) for background noise. I've also overheard some of Lego Movie 2, the new Annie, Epic, and Toy Story when the kids played inside for a few minutes..

This week's menu::
Birthdays are making this one easy-ish.
Tonight we've got chicken and dumplings going in the crock-pot.
Tomorrow - I'll have to come up with something! LOL
Wednesday is hubby's birthday - hubby's choice!
Thursday I've requested a platter of lamb, chicken, and all the fixings from our local Pita Way (or similar) - YUMMO!
And Thursday we also get three meals from Hello Fresh, so that will take care of Friday (and next Tuesday & Wednesday!).

To-do list::
Wrap hubby's presents for his birthday and Fathers Day
Mail Maggie's hair donation to Children with Hair Loss
Get graduation cards for the three graduates we'll be celebrating this weekend
Turn in my last timesheet for this year on Wednesday

Looking forward to::
Sleeping in. :D

Looking around the house::
I've got one more week of test scoring (which means I'm usually at my computer if I'm home), but then I can sit out and read, probably pull a few weeds...

One of my simple pleasures:: 
I just got my new planner for 2020 from Erin Condren, and also got the summer surprise box - I love it all!! I ordered earlier than usual because I'm going to start planning our trip to Disney for spring break next year!

Happy Homemaker Monday {28 Jan 19}

Whoa - I sort of disappeared for a bit there, eh? I'm back home for the day (snow day, that is) and linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay-at-Home-Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday. I have so much fly through my head for just random posts, but everything feels so opinionated and divisive. And I don't want to go there. So I'll just keep it nice and shallow and friendly instead. :)

The weather::

Well, I don't know if that looks like a good time to you, but it looks cold and miserable to me. LOL As a school employee for a whopping 10 hours/week, I do appreciate sleeping in, but I've already maxed out my paid snow days. So I won't get paid for today, and I fully expect to have at least one or two more snow or cold days off this week. Yay for sleep, boo for my paycheck in mid-February.

On my reading pile::

I'm getting a crazy amount of reading done this year. I can't exactly say why, other than the fact that I've made it a priority. I've been reading with all my spare time, and I've finished nine books so far in January, and I expect I'll finish the tenth later tonight.
The book I'll be finishing tonight on my Kindle is Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I haven't yet watched the movie version, but I hope to - I love book/movie combos. Next I'm starting The Forgotten Hours by Katrin Schumann.



On my TV::

That's cute, how you think I might have some control over my own TV set. I've never been a big TV watcher. Right now I think it's some goofy kids YouTube thing - looks like HobbyKidsTV. I don't have any shows I'm currently watching.

On the menu for this week::
Monday - Hubs and daughter are out skiing, so I don't cook for just two. The little man and I will scrounge up some leftovers. Maybe hubs will let me know where they grab dinner and bring me something. Maybe not. No biggie either way.
Tuesday - Hubs teaches skiing, and the kids have activities til 5pm and 6:30pm. Last week we got pizza on the way home. It was good. Maybe we should do that again.
Wednesday - I got a box mix for red beans and rice with sausage. I'm hoping hubs will like it. Maybe we'll try it Wednesday.
Thursday - See Tuesday. LOL No, not pizza again, but hubs won't be home, so the kids and I will just warm something up.
Friday - Chicken of some sort. I need to pick up another can of chicken broth, but then I'll either put together the chicken and stuffing that my daughter really likes, or maybe some chicken and dumplings in the crock pot.

On my to-do list::
Finish getting daughter's laundry out of the dryer
Dry son's laundry and get it put away too
Do another load of whites so hubs has long johns clean for Thursday
Wash my jeans
Spend some time working on counted cross-stitch if we get another snow day this week

Looking around the house::
So happy I filled up my birdfeeders outside the front door. I love friendly little visitors. I'd like to get a couple more feeders to adorn more of my shepherd's hooks.

From the camera::

If only I were more ambitious about getting good pictures. Sorry there's a little bit of window reflection. I didn't want to actually go out in the cold and snow.



















What I'm wearing today::
Double sweaters - a sweater, and then a poncho sweater my mom made over it. I hate to be cold. And a pair of jeggings that would not be warm enough outside, but I knew I wouldn't be going anywhere today.

My simple pleasures::
Curling up with an afghan and reading. Listening to music. Feeling no pressure to do anything. Yay for a good snow day!

Happy Homemaker Monday {14 Jan 19}

I saw a Facebook friend from way-back post her blog today, and headed over to check it out. Today at My Life As Mama Jodi, she's joining the linky love for Happy Homemaker Monday through Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I decided to join in! (Set aside the fact that I have a two-hour-a-day job, I'm still a mostly homemaker ;) ).









The weather: Feels chilly to me, but I am not much a fan of cold..or winter. At least there's no snow, and the sun is shining :)


Right now I am: Hanging out in the 'formal' dining room at the computer. Obvs. Hubby just got home, and we're deciding what to do about dinner.

Thinking: Still thinking about dinner. Hmm.... And trying to sort of hustle, since hubs apparently wants the computer soon. Concerned about the government shut-down. Are things as 'safe' as they should be? Probably not.

On my reading pile: On my pile? This post would be way too long! I'm currently reading For the Sake of the Game (a collection of short stories edited by Laurie R King), and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Two TOTALLY different books, so I'm alternating between them on purpose.

On my TV: Nothing. Really. My daughter wants to watch Bird Box, so maybe we'll do that later. Or tomorrow.

Favorite blog post this week: Oh, heavens. I didn't know I was supposed to keep track. Next time, I promise.

On the menu for this week: Tonight is still up for discussion. Chicken is thawed, but it would still be thawed on Wednesday if we head somewhere else tonight. Tomorrow and Thursday are hubby's days at the ski hill, so the kids and I just sort of make-do. Dinner is a pretty casual affair this week, it seems.

On my to-do list: Tomorrow is hubby's payday, so I'll need to fund up the kids' lunch accounts and pay the bills. We're also adjusting to the first full week of activities after holiday break (not sure why several things didn't start til this week?), so my goal is to keep all the balls in the air, more or less.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting, or creating: My counted cross-stitch project has made it back downstairs again, but not a stitch has been made since August. I think after my payday, I'll make it a priority to get a good crafting light to set up in the family room, so I can stitch in the evening, instead of reading, sometimes.

Looking around the house: The house still looks pretty nice, since we had family over last Friday.

From the camera: Oops - didn't see this one coming either. I started trying to do a photo-a-day again for 2019, but didn't make it far. One of my goals this year is to be enough. So when I get a photo, great! Today was not one of those days, but it isn't over yet. Maybe later on I'll see something I want visually preserved as a picture...


This has been fun! I love finding more of these - like the old meme days of blogs. I've been blogging a long time, and sort of miss the way we all did things like this together back in the day. Now I sound like I've been blogging a long time AND I'm old. LOL