Good Monday Morning! ♥

 

Hello Lovely Friends! Good Monday Morning (as I type this it's still morning :). 

I hope you all had a nice weekend.  We were blessed with beautiful weather Saturday and Sunday!  Summer is here and it definitely feels like it! There are fallen rose petals sprinkled all over the lawn but I don't mind a bit.  It looks like confetti ♥

 On Saturday Rob took me out for a nice breakfast and then he went home to watch soccer -which people are completely obsessed with - in the best way possible - around here!:)  While he did that, I went out and about to run some errands.  I checked some things off my list that had been lingering on there for weeks, so I felt productive.  I picked up a new lamp for my bedroom that I had been wanting for ages.  It sounds silly but I was so happy about it.  It's the little things folks, it truly is (see my smile!!). 

On Saturday night John and I saw Toy Story 5.  We loved it!!  I loved seeing it with him as Toy Story has always been a HUGE part of our lives.  John was Woody for Halloween at least 3 times when he was growing up. The whole franchise holds a special place in our hearts.  Needless to say, we loved the movie and the message behind it. 

If you haven't seen it yet, please go soon! ♥

Sunday morning mass was so nice.  I love getting there early to admire the sun shining through the stained-glass windows.  It fills me with peace and it's a great way to start my week. 

 I spent the rest of day home with my Dad, just us.  It was the perfect way to spend Father's day. We made dinner together which was fun. He had bought some delicious steaks from Omaha Steaks that honestly, I was afraid to cook because I didn't want to ruin them.  He's much better at that than I, so he was in charge. My job was the baked potatoes and green beans.  The meal was amazing, and I'm sorry to say I was so excited to eat, I never took a picture. We still have a few more in the freezer so next time I will! For dessert I made a pineapple coconut ambrosia pie.  Don't you just LOVE a no bake pie in the summer? I do!  I saw this recipe in a cookbook I picked up at the library from Joy the Baker.  I love her, so I knew it would be good! It was sweet, but we have big sweet teeth over here, so no complaints from us! It actually reminded me of my favorite DQ blizzard - tropical!  Rob and John can enjoy the pie tonight. 

I felt my mother with me a lot this weekend. Especially when I was out shopping. That would have been something we would have done together and I'm still struggling to get used to being by myself in those situations. I don't think I will ever not feel that void. I felt like she was thinking about me, but instead of being sad, it brought me a strange sense of comfort that she was near...if that makes any sense.  

Anyway, now all of a sudden, it's Monday and we're off and running with a new week. It's a short one for me because we are heading up to Maine for the weekend. I'm excited for a break and a change of scenery for a few days. I think my soul needs it.  This time Friday I will be drinking coffee and reading a book on my hotel balcony overlooking the ocean in Ogunquit, Maine.  I can feel the stress leaving my body already.....♥

Wishing you the most happy day (even if it is Monday!...lol).  Try to celebrate the small joys.  It really does help ♥

Talk soon! Byeeee! xo 

A good day ♥

 

Hello Friends! ♥

I'm just winding down work for the day, and I thought I'd pop on and say hello.  My day started early this morning.  Once a month I take my Dad to the hospital to have bloodwork done.  Today was the day.  Thankfully he got a very good report and didn't need any shots or infusions!  His numbers are all very good! We celebrated with a coffee & donut (which is NOT on his diet but since this was a happy occasion, I let it slide...:) 

I came home, switched on my Easter village, and got to work.  I am so grateful I can work from home!!  I don't have to leave my Dad home by himself all day, and believe it or not - I'm much more productive in my home office than my real office.   

Sidenote: I'm loving my Easter decorations this year.  They are so cheery after the long winter.  I suppose its like that every year, I just am really appreciating it this year.  It has been so so cold.  I'm o-v-e-r it!  We are definitely over the worst of it now and warmer days are coming.  I can feel it! 

I wanted to show you something else that made me smile today...♥

I found this tiny little cup with some of my mother's things.  

It's the prettiest floral pattern (love) and has four legs, which is very different.  

I have no idea what it would ever be used for besides decoration.  For now, I've put it on a teacup shelf I have in my upstairs kitchen.  

This shows you how small it is compared to a regular teacup.... ♥

Regardless I love it and it will probably stay there forever.  My mom and I clearly had the same taste and love for the same things.  She saved it for a reason and I will too ♥

Overall, it's been a good day and one that has gone by very quickly.  A typical ordinary March day that I have truly appreciated - there was sun, good health, and pretty things. 

Yup, a good day indeed ♥

I'm off to start dinner now.  I'm trying a new pork chop recipe tonight.  If it's good, I'll share it!

Have a great night, dear friends! ♥

Byeeee! xo 

Hello October ♥

Hello Beautiful October and Happy Friday! ♥

As I type this post I'm listing to a playlist on YouTube titled "Halloween 1945 Nostalgic Vintage Music Playlist for Autum Vibes".  It's so cozy and perfect and I'm linking it HERE for you so you can listen too!  The vintage Halloween images are just as wonderful as the music and it makes me really wish Halloween was still like that.  

Maybe somewhere it is...:) 

Speaking of Autumn vibes, they have arrived! I can feel the shift in the air and I'm loving it.  

This morning was 50 degrees, which is the coldest it's been in a while.  I felt it when I stepped out of the house to run to the post office at 8:15am. I had to grab a fleece and zip it up over my PJ's. 

 Funny thing about me is, my level of standard of what's "acceptable" to look like in public has drastically changed since I turned 50.  If it's a quick errand, and it's early morning...anything goes.  

But anyway...back to what's important :) 

Last weekend we went apple picking (a Fall tradition with friends) so my house is now full of apples galore!  Since it's been cold and gloomy today (and I say that with nothing but love and happiness in my heart) I decided it's comfort food night so we're having breakfast dinner...something I do often this time of year. I'll make Susan Branch's German Pancake and add apples and cinnamon to it. It's one of my favorite comfort recipes. 

I did a video and blog post with the recipe a while back.  Here's the link.  It's super easy if you feel like comfort food tonight!  

We had a beautiful day to pick apples! We went to an orchard that I'd never been to before.  We usually go to a little farm.  This was a much bigger place and what was shocking to me was we had to purchase tickets and get wristbands, theme park style.  Because of that, the experience lost some of its charm for me.  I guess I just prefer the smaller places.  It was still lovely, don't get me wrong.  It's just amazing to me how things change.  

Me and John, my friend Julie, and her two boys Sean and Michael.  John's known them since kindergarten. We've been doing this every fall for years and years! ♥

I tried a corn maze for the first (and last) time.  I won't tell you how long it took me to get out of this thing! Its the stuff horror movies are made of.  

Regardless of that trauma, I got what I went for.  The mother load! ♥

My Dad's birthday is Sunday and I've promised him an apple pie.  I also want to make apple sauce. 

I remember once in the Fall a few years ago I was visiting my friend BJ and her daughter Madison had made homemade applesauce in a crockpot.  We had gone for a walk on a chilly afternoon in her neighborhood and we when got home we had a bowl of Madison's homemade applesauce.  It was like Autumn in a bowl!  It was delicious and made me so happy.  That's such a nice little memory for me and ever since I make applesauce every October (her recipe of course!).  

Side note: that same weekend BJ made us pumpkin spice lattes in the crockpot and that's when I knew we'd be friends for life ♥

Meanwhile, we're settling into October very nicely.  I'm still on leaf watch.  No major color changes yet, but it's coming.  The birds, squirrels, and chipmunks have been very busy.  They are getting ready.  

As for me, I've gone into nesting mode.  I decided I want to take up some kind of sewing or needlepoint so I'm off to Michaels or Hobby Lobby find a project. My mother always sewed and did craft projects on cold dark nights while drinking tea. I love the idea doing something with myself besides doom scrolling on my phone. Something I've been doing too much of lately.  I would rather make something and be creative while listening to an audiobook.  

Doesn't that sound cozy? ♥  

I can never resist a supermarket bouquet of autumn flowers!  These were calling my name, so I brought them home today.  The colors are everything right now ♥  

Soup has officially been added into the meal rotation again. 

 I LOVE having soup for lunch this time of year.  I like to make a big batch on Sundays and then we have it all week long.  

Minestrone is my favorite! 

Have you tried this tea yet?  

It reminds of those cinnamon candies we had as kids, except better.  

It's been my afternoon treat lately, with a cookie or piece of dark chocolate. 

Yum ♥

...And speaking of my Dad, many of you ask for him which I appreciate so much.  I realized I haven't shared that many photos of him lately.  I took this picture yesterday when we came home from an appointment. He's feeling and looking very well these days.  On Sunday he'll be 86 and yes, he still has all his hair! 

This weekend Rob has promised me a coffee date, which I am very much looking forward to.  Sunday we are taking my Dad out to dinner and sometime in between I plan on doing some housework, reading my book, and hopefully going for a nice walk.  Is it too soon to start watching Hallmark Christmas movies? Well, not for me but I think I'll watch some Fall themed ones first.  Nothing too heavy, and the cornier the better. Oh heck, maybe I'll just have a Meg Ryan fest : )  

Have a great October weekend my friends.  We only get 4 of them so lets enjoy them! ♥

Byeeee! ♥

xoox 

July days so far ♥

*picture taken in the wee hours of the morning when the sun was just waking up*

 

Hello Friends! ♥

I'm back from a short blogging break.  I've missed you and this space so much! It's hard to believe that we are 3 weeks into July already.  The 4th was not even 2 weeks ago but seems like a month ago! How have you all been?  The weeks since John's graduation have been a rollercoaster ride for me.  My Dad was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks.  He came home for a week and then he had to go back...thankfully just for a few days.  I can honestly say I've had my fill of that place (so has he!).  Not that he wasn't getting good care, it's just not a fun place to be. He's home now with visiting nurse services and that's working out very well.  He's getting stronger and (after some medication changes) is finally feeling much better.  He's up and about and today I took him to the barber shop to get a haircut.  He was quite happy about that and feeling like himself again. 

The shock of John's graduation has passed and now we are getting excited for the future.  He'll be starting community college in the fall and will continue working at the theater nights and weekends.  He enjoys working there, especially the perk of being able to see all the movies for free.  I am loving the idea of him commuting to community college.  It's a great way for him to ease into figuring out exactly what he wants to do without the pressures of a four-year university.  I think it's a great fit for him and I'm excited to see where he goes from here.  But like I told him, there's no rush so take your time. You have your whole life ahead of you.  There are many paths that can lead you where you want to go.  What's the rush? ♥

As for me, I'm trying to enjoy the summer as much as I can.  On Saturday night Rob and I took a drive to the beach. We got hot dogs and ice cream and watched the sunset. It's my favorite thing to do in the summer.  I don't like the heat and it's been so hot lately, but sunset at the beach is perfection to me.  I usually hibernate in the summer. I spend my days in air conditioning sipping on iced coffee, reading books, and thinking about Fall.  Just like I did when I was a kid.  Except now The Price Is Right is Hosted by Drew Carey instead of Bob Barker! (which still seems weird to me:)

I know, I know...it's early.  BUT I can still be excited about it.  It's nice to have something to look forward to, and I wait all year for pumpkin spice.  I really do.  

Ok, back to summer....but just know that this is always on my mind ♥

If you happen to pop by my house unexpectedly recently this is how you would probably find me.  Hair up, glasses on, and in my favorite housedress! Gifted to me by my friend who somehow knows exactly what I need exactly when I need it.  It's so comfortable! And not only that, I'm living out my I Love Lucy dreams because I can so see her in one of these.  Our mothers and grandmothers really knew what they were doing, didn't they?  I feel comfortable like I'm in pajamas yet put together at the same time.  I can answer the door or run to the gas station or do an errand without having to change.  I absolutely love it.  I need more of these in my life.  

#bringbackthehousedress 

House projects are a constant work in progress around here.  This is on the side of the house at the end of the driveway.  We are still deciding what to do here. What to plant, where to put it, etc.  For now, it's mulch and rose bushes.  There's a bird bath that I like to keep my eye on from the deck and that entertains me sometimes.  I'm embracing the idea of slow living and trying to be more present in everything I do.  It's a constant struggle for me but I'm trying.  

I appreciate the outdoors so much after sitting with my Dad in the hospital for weeks.  You miss the sunshine and fresh air. Unfortunately, it's been too hot to spend much time outside right now but I've had my moments.  Usually in the early morning hours.  Just me, the birds, and the bunnies : ) 

Back inside the house I'm surrounded by summer things:

Fresh fruit from the farmers market ♥

My favorite summer PJ's ♥

 

My plants that thrive in the summer sun ♥

Summer salads ♥

 And seafood!  ♥

Because of my Dad's health issues he's had to go on a strict low sodium diet which has forced me to become a little more creative in the kitchen.  Are you aware that pretty much EVERYTHING we eat has sodium in it?! UGH.  It's hard to work around that but I'm getting there.  He's not too happy about it, but his heart certainly is! 

I'll leave you today with a glimpse of this beautiful hydrangea bush by our front door.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.  

Happy Summer Days my friends! I pray you are all well. 

Have a lovely Monday and I'll see you soon! xo 

PS this pretty much sums me up in the summer! Just to confirm...I'm the one on the right : ) 

My weekend ♥

Hello Friends! Happy Monday! ♥

I hope you all had a nice and restful weekend.  We were blessed with beautiful weather (in the 70's) both days which made me very happy.  If only it would stay that way...but alas...I know it won't.  It's ok.  I'll enjoy it while I can.  I had all the windows open to let the glorious fresh air in.  I'm finding I do that more and more these days and I really like it.  I even sleep with my windows cracked now, even if it's on the cooler side.  I think the fresh air helps me sleep better.  Rob is usually freezing and I'm "just right." That's marriage for you.  Just wait until we put the a/c on! : ) 

I spent the better part of Saturday out here on my deck with my new little friend.  He really took a liking to that spot and would not leave.  I thought maybe he was building a nest or something because he seemed to be guarding the spot, but after further investigation I didn't see anything. I'm still not convinced.  I'll report back later : )   

I finished Darling Girls which I really liked!  

I hadn't read a good book in a while and this one got me out of my slump.  This week I'll head to the library to find my next read ♥

 I had run out to Walmart (which...going on a Saturday is like going into battle!) but I needed a few things and wanted to check them off my list.  First stop was to Dunkin Donuts to get the mango refresher.  

It's so good and really hit the spot! ♥

I've needed to repot one of my plants for ages and wanted to get that done this weekend.  I picked up this pretty one which is perfect for my kitchen.  Only $5 too - so the trip into battle was worth it.

*Not to say I don't love Walmart because I do. It's just MY Walmart (the one near my house) is very small and always crowded.  They never have enough people working there so it's a given I'm going to be standing in line for ages.  It's literally my worst nightmare.  All to save a few pennies on paper towels and dish soap, but I do what I have to do! I've been to super Walmarts that are so much nicer than mine.  I hope one opens closer to me one day. I can only dream!*

ANYWAY - I also picked up a few things for John graduation! EEEK! 

Today marks the start of his last full week of school.  As of Friday, that's it! Except for finals, he's done.  It's so hard to believe and SO exciting too!  

Next up is prom! ♥

This is one of the proofs that I got with his senior photos.  I didn't buy this one for his senior picture, but I really like it.  He looks so grown up! 

On Sunday it was such a beautiful day Rob and I had a little day date and took a walk on the beach.  The water and sky were so BLUE.  I needed to hear the sound of the waves and smell that salt air.  It's so peaceful. 

 And notice how there's no people?  Glorious! It won't be that way after Memorial Day so we're getting in our beach time now. 

We always stop and comment on those condos over there.  We dream about retirement and even toured the inside once a few years ago.  I would love to wake up to this view.  And Rob would never have to do yard work ever again! ♥

And so begins a new week.  I have to get better at meal planning.  I'm definitely slipping because It's already lunch time I have no idea what's for dinner.  My plan for the week is to work on staying organized.  With John graduation (and everything that goes along with that) coming up, plus my Dad's recovery (and everything that goes along with that) I've felt like an actual hot mess. I know I need sleep and am in dire need of a pedicure so I can bust out my sandals.  I just need to find the time to do it.  

                                                                            

If you have any tips, please send them my way! Love you! Have a great day! XO 

PS Update on Dad - He's been working with PT like a trooper and it's going well.  He saw the doctor on Friday and he said everything looks great.  The pain will get less and less, so keep going.  It will be worth it.  Fingers crossed it's sooner than later ♥