The Weakly Tribune Vol. 1 Issue 4

 

THE WEAKLY TRIBUNE

Monday 7.11.22

Awoke a little after midnight to Danielle telling me she had to throw up. Some ended up on the floor, some in her bed, but thankfully most in the sink! I think Danl telling her last night that she could eat gelato until she couldn’t eat anymore was not the best idea since she downed copious amounts before reaching that point. Ugh. Back to bed. Danielle was totally fine the rest of the day! Got a late start with my Morning Routine. Helped Danielle refill the birdbath and bird feeder. Worked at my desk. Did Payroll. Heard about little Betsy Dyck gaining her angel wings. And other children too! Beyond tragic. My head and heart cannot comprehend all this pain. Finished typing and posting The Weakly Tribune; feeling that our Normal Days are more precious than ever. I’m so pleased with my compact pedal exerciser! Pedaled over 30 minutes while catching up on my phone. Danl got home early and ran to the bank and vet for me. Danielle went with him. Thought again about last week’s Thursday Cleaning and actually dusted the ceiling a little. It gets so buggy and dusty. But decided since it’s getting so close to Thursday now that it’ll just roll over! Waaah. Why don’t I love to clean?! Wanted to clean out our little pool and mow the backyard, but a small hurricane blew in and dashed that idea. Danl and Danielle went to Piggly too and brought home hamburger and tater tots. Pan-fried the burgers and fries the tots in the house due the rain. Sat out on the back porch and watched the sky while Danielle “roosted” with her chicken inside the coop. It looked like the flaming golden doors of Heaven were so close, just beyond the treetops. Even the air seemed to be an odd golden hue that wrapped around the Earth like a hug. Celebration in Heaven; heartbreak on Earth. Life is a juxtaposition. 

 Tuesday 7.12.22

Another day of Birthday Celebration! Turning 36 has proved to be a Very Good Thing! Met Erica Lynn and Summer at the teacher’s house for a walkthrough before heading for Pensacola. Stopped at the Ministry Village thrift store where I scored a little wooden deer. Lost Pizza for lunch. I highly recommend The Lucille on thin crust! Then to the mall for pedicures where I proceeded to drop my phone into my foot bath! Thankfully it was unharmed after a speedy towel off. Ross Dress for Less afterwards. Sweet Cone Alabama for ice cream was next on our agenda. The girls loved playing in the sprinkle pit and swinging on the indoor swings! I loved my waffle cone with a scoop of Dark Chocolate and a scoop of Roadrunner Raspberry! Ended our outing with Walmart Pickup before heading home. Ate venison fajitas together at our house since it was Taco Tuesday. Birthday Days are the Best! I still have one more celebration on the books before it’s over for this year though! 

 

Wednesday 7.13.22

Woke up ready for a Home Day that was not to be. Hate feeling behind even before the day gets started! Barely made it in time to the STEM (I had to look it up; it’s an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) class I had enrolled Danielle in at the Atmore Library. Was a really cool balloon car project! Danielle went home with Ms. Karma and her kids, while I ran to the Pig, then to Southern Harbor to get my freezer food I’d been storing there. After some readjustments and decluttering of older food, I was able to cram everything into our rented freezer. Made an Oreo ice cream dessert for Tracey’s bake day. Karma followed me over there and we delivered our food before going on to Gloria’s. I did her payroll again, before joining the rest at the pool. Sun actually shone a little bit right before it was time to leave! The Lotus icee Karma had made for me hit the spot too. Yum. The kitchen was a wreck and I was not inspired to cook. Danl suggested trying Rocky’s Pizza again, but after getting quoted $34 for what would be their equivalent of one Meat Lovers pizza, I said No Thanks! Proceeded to order a large ML, cheese breadsticks, extra marinara, and a medium cheese pizza all for only $27 from Pizza Hut! Sorry, Rockys! Felt so good to go to bed; I was more than ready for my “Low on Patience; High on Spunk” day to be over so I could try again tomorrow. Quickly put in a Prime Day order before that countdown ended. Also noticed that it had been a “High on Screen Time” day… no wonder I felt so Blah. 

 

7.14.22

Danl and David got our freezer moved under the mancave lean-to first thing! I know we’re gonna love having it there instead of way out in the barn. Helped Danielle get going with the crystal making kit she picked out for her One Thing on Tuesday. Got all the poop scooped and was gonna mow the jungle in the back but it started up raining again. Ordered an arrangement to be delivered for Matt & Kelli. Finally finished my Morning Routine and had a late lunch. Danl came home early since he was rained out, bringing delicious meats and treats from Costello's Butcher Shop & Deli. Oversaw another batch of hydro-marble painting. Then I announced to my family that Thursday Cleaning was about to be underway! Danl fled to the mancave and Danielle to her room. I did the basic cleaning plus deep cleaned the shower, vacuumed the dust off the dog fan and the AC closet door, and washed the curtains in the dogs’ area. So pleased to finally have a fresh house again! But somehow Cleaning always makes me feel grouchy and I want to be a Different Person! Someone who isn’t a Slob and has Much Less Stuff all over the place. I assisted Danl in cooking World’s Best Philly Cheesesteaks. I made us a tiny Oreo ice cream dessert since I have “had a taste for it” ever since making them for others lately. Danl mowed and I did a thorough wipeout inside and out on the freezer before plugging it in. Pedaled and enjoyed some Oreo dessert in one of my green glass dessert dishes from Leona Peters. 

 

7.15.22

Roosty’s Morning Crow is sounding more polished! Danielle has taught Rocket how to Sit and Stay like a dog lol. Did Morning Routine, listened to most of little Betsy's funeral, helped Danielle on the next step of Crystal Making, and worked at my desk. FaceTimed with Aunt Sue while I got my lunch around and ate it on the back porch to enjoy the sunny day! Ran to WeCare where we saw Carmela, Rosalie, and Karma and kiddos all unplanned. Scored a Hearth & Hand mug for the teacher’s house, a copper ladle, a whisk, a book, and a shallow clay pot perfect for succulents. So annoyed to see a pedal exerciser for only $2.99! Of course I would find one just after ordering. Argh. Went to Waves for a much-needed wash and vacuum, then to Walmart for watermelon. I can’t pick out a good watermelon to save my life, but I thumped them soundly just for looks before just putting 2 in my cart. Got our weekly milk from the Landis cows. Made baked beans and went to Summer’s 2nd birthday party! Such a fun feast of Italian fried chicken, tater salad, beans, pasta salad, watermelon, and Oreo and fried ice cream desserts! 

 

7.16.22

School Cleaning! And exactly 1 month until the First Day of School! Should’ve journeyed to Steve’s for watermelon because the first one I cut was inedible; the 2nd one was somewhat better. Wanted to be there by at least 9:00, but it was 9:30 when we arrived. When I told Danielle she could wipe the baseboards in the room we were working in, she replied, “What’s a baseboard?!” Be sure your lack of cleaning shall find you out! But now she knows! And maybe she’ll clean ours. Karma, Kinsley, Danielle and I headed for Pensacola shortly before lunch was served, since local Pensacola author Emily Ley had rescheduled her book signing at Barnes & Noble. Lunched at Panda Express. Weren’t fortunate enough to be given fortune cookies. Joined the small semi-circle of women and children gathered around Emily! She was every bit the epitome of southern elegance in her white eyelet dress with her 3 adorable kids around her. She read her new children’s book You're Always Enough, interjecting interesting comments here and there as she went along. Then we got to speak with her and she signed ALL my books. Only 5 copies of When Less Becomes More and 3 copies of You’re Always Enough. From there we went to Crazy Cazboys, only to be disappointed to learn that they are closing next Wednesday. Didn’t seem like they had gotten a new shipment on Thursday either. Next stop was Hobby Lobby. Wall Decor was not 50% off this week, so I just Idea Shopped for the teacher’s house. Crumbl Cookie was up next! Tried Lemon, PB&J, Pop-Tart, and Danielle wanted a Chocolate Chip. Then to Ever'man Coop for vitamins and Lemon Zinger fresh pressed juice drinks. Last stop was Ministry Village thrift shop before heading home. Grilled sausage, a packet of squash, onions, and bacon, and steaks for supper. Jace’s stopped by and chatted since they were bebopping around in Bonnie. 

 

7.17.22

Breakfast was super thick sliced bacon with the rind still on from Costellos; along with Crumbl cookies and coffee for me. Felt so good to be back in Southern Harbor for Sunday School and church! Went to David and Tara’s for delicious burgers, leftover beans from Summer’s party, and Brazilian potato salad created by David. The sun amazingly shone all day! Tara, Danielle, and I went down to the creek for several hours to enjoy the sunshine there. Danielle had a blast making friends and playing with two little boys named Ezra and Chip. Snacked around some more (had my first taste of Brazilian cheese bread! Yum!) before heading back home. A very good relaxing day. I’m trying to have Sunday’s be a Mostly Screen-Free Day like the Wade Kaufmann family does. Pretty pleased with 2 hours 3 minutes. Could be better, could be worse!

 

Simple Satisfaction of the Week: Realizing in Sunday School that if I knew tomorrow was my last day on earth, that I would simply want to be on my phone less, while praying, hugging, and laughing more! 

Rueful Regret of the Week: Not starting to sew new frocks for Rachelle’s wedding.

THE WEAKLY TRIBUNE Vol. 1 Issue 3

THE WEAKLY TRIBUNE

Monday 7.4.22

Happy Birthday, America! The fourth day in a row that Danl was home happened to be the Fourth of July! We started celebrating by attending a fabulous breakfast cookout at Gene and Karma’s. Was great to meet Aaron and Kyla, and to be with Drew and Anna again! We had a feast! Everything was cooked on the back patio on the Blackstone except Aaron cooked the crepes inside. Blackened snapper and spade fish, bacon, sausage, hash browns, fried eggs. Freshly whipped cream, cut up mixed fruit, peanut butter, butter syrup, sugared raspberries to put on the crepes. Assorted juices. Sparkling lemonade from Aldi. Oh and a 7-up pound cake too! The guys were hot from cooking and ate inside, but we girls enjoyed our brunch on the patio and the kids swam even though it was raining part of the time. Stopped at Tractor Supply for chicken feed on the way home. I worked on finishing writing last week’s Weakly; editing, and posting it. Read a bit, and piddled. Ordered this pedal exerciser! I’m convinced I will be able to easily close my Apple exercise ring with this contraption handy to pedal under my desk or here or there or while lazing in a chair! Danielle played in the sandbox, made rubber band bracelets, and reorganized her fishing tackle box. Danl napped. Once he awoke, we commenced cooking. Yellow summer squash casserole, cucumber slaw, watermelon, and Jones drinks. I cannot drink a blue Berry Lemonade Jones drink without remembering drinking them with Wade and Rhonda while taking shelter in the old Fort Pickens ruins during an epic boating trip that got interrupted by a severe summer storm one birthday years ago! Grilled ribeyes and Realtree link sausage provided our protein. Shortly after 8:00 we headed for Poarch to watch fireworks, but opted for the privacy of the private property of some of our customers instead of joining friends behind Taco Bell like usual. I missed the camaraderie, but it was nice to watch them in seclusion sitting together on my old quilt on the tailgate of our new work truck. Also nice to be able to get home good time instead of waiting and waiting in congested traffic. We then had a back porch sparkler session before calling it a day! But not before enjoying some ice cream in bed. 

Tuesday 7.5.22

A happy Home Day. Tested my blood sugar again on Mom’s glucose meter, proving once again that my blood sugar is PERFECT! Not low in the least! I guess I just have The Morning Grumpies. Danl asked me to please just keep eating my chocolate anyway, so like a good submissive little wife, I’m gonna obey! This experiment has proved that dark chocolate definitely does improve one's mood! Danielle got inspired to make tiny colorful bracelets for a couple of her chicken’s legs. But she decided maybe it wasn’t the best idea after becoming worried that perhaps Roosty had eaten his since it was no longer on his leg and removed Chubby Chick’s herself. Since I had not completed Morning nor Evening routines on July 4, it took me all morning to get back on track with the daily duties. Concocted an essential oil blend that I’m calling Summertime Dill Pickle! Bergamot and Lime with a splash of Dill. Worked at my desk and push-mowed the backyard before supper. Once a week is barely enough with all the rain we’ve been getting. Taco Tuesday was steak stack-ups and cheese dip and chips this time. 

Wednesday 7.6.22

Started the day with such a satisfying Morning Sit from when Danl left shortly before 6:00 through 7:00 when Danielle woke up. Lit the four taper candles in the living room and soaked in the solitude of the hour with my coffee and the last of the cobbler. Read some poetry, Sandwich Journaled, which is my term for doing a brain dump in my journal, then reading my Bible, then journaling again about whatever impressed me. This method has worked so well for me. Wordled and Waffled, then moved on to the less glamorous parts of my MR. Danielle got weepy due to having trials trying to get dressed for the day. We ended up sitting on the couch reading Bible stories and library books and singing VBS songs for a while. I need to do this more with her. Worked at my desk. Danl popped home for lunch between jobs. Then Danielle and I bebopped over to Gloria’s so I could process payroll for her due to her Remote PC not cooperating in London. That done, we soaked up some sun and fun in their pool since the weather decided to give a small rain break for once! Karma and kiddos joined us. Ran them home to Atmore since their Durango tire sprang a serious leak. Rain break over, I proceeded to grill pizzas in the drizzle. The rain spritzing down in the sunlight made the drops look like sparkling diamonds! Two rainbows emerged as well. FYI, a fix’n’mix Tupperware bowl turned upside down works superbly for transporting pizzas to and from the grill to keep them dry! Karma stopped by with an unexpected but most delectable loaf of freshly baked sourdough bread on their way to get their Durango. Life doesn’t get much better than a warm slice of homemade buttered bread with a glass of cold dairy milk. Mmmmmm. #realfood

Thursday 7.7.22

10 years have passed since Uncle Kale passed…We all still miss him so much. Took the last garden tomato from Steve Byrd to my folks for them to enjoy. Then dropped Danielle off to spend the day with Lainey before joining Rhonda and Anne at the Circle E office to go together on an outing that Anne had instigated for my birthday way back in June! Sadly, Karma was not able to join us since they were headed to Leland for a funeral. Katie was supposed to join us for lunch before her Dr. apt, but that also got canceled due to Noah being under the weather. First stop was T.J.Maxx or “P.J.Masks” as Danielle insists upon calling it! Purchased most of Rachelle’s wedding present. Then to Hobby Lobby where I proceeded to purchase a pile of fabric! Totally UNEXPECTED! But it just felt like the fabric wanted to come home with me! 4 pieces for me and 2 for Danielle. JoAnn’s was next. Thankfully I walked out of there bagless. We lunched at Jo's as always, which felt like going on a field trip! Years ago I had been to DUH with Jill, but this exquisite French bistro-style cafe had not been a part of the experience back then. Even in our Florida heat and humidity, we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch in the shade of the outdoor courtyard. I had rosemary water with a splash of raspberry flavor, garden salad with bleu cheese dressing, fresh mixed fruit with a poppyseed sauce, chicken salad sandwich on house-made French bread, and bread pudding with lemon sauce! All utterly elegant. Then we browsed about in the companion stores, looking at plants, patio decor, and housewares, wondering how it would feel to be able to purchase $150 pottery mugs and horsehair ceiling dusters that cost $91.50! Somehow the whole place just gives European vibes; making me feel like maybe I could be an elegant southern woman who stands up straight and glides about gracefully. Although my small incident with the horsehair duster would bely that idea! From there we put our passports away, figuratively, and like normal Americans went to Target. Danielle was delighted with her day with the Koehn’s, even proclaiming that Ms. Roxie had made “The best lunch she had ever had away from home!” That’s a high compliment coming from Little Miss Picky! I fried venison backstrap and reheated squash casserole. Danl went back out to work, doing some discing. Still got to bed before 9:00!

Friday 7.8.22

Cock-doodle-do! What is that garbled, scratchy noise that sounds like something is dying?! Oh, it’s Roosty! Proudly crowing his first feeble crows! I piddled around with my Morning Routine and did not even start Thursday Cleaning. Started reading a little gem of a book by Dana K. White called Organizing for the Rest of Us. Helped Danielle with the terrarium kit Nana sent her in the mail. After lunch, I printed off four copies of the previous issues of The Weakly Tribune, mailed them from the post office, (why didn’t I remember to use Pirate Ship?!) and went over to my folks! It’d been way too long since Danielle and I had been there when we could stay awhile and not rush off! I helped Mom prepare her food for the Schneider Italian potluck and visited with Dad. I’m so lucky to have my parents close by! From there, we stopped by and got a couple scobies from Sharla, (so ready for summer kombucha!) then drove on to the Landis farm for our fresh milk. Sat on the back porch and listened to the mesmerizing music from my new birthday wind chimes. Got some congos baking, made supper which was fried catfish from Steve’sFarm, cheese grits, and some of last year’s frozen peaches. My left eye was really bothering me; figured I must’ve gotten something in it. Danielle and I headed to school to say hey to Uncle Lyle and Aunt Polly! Also to get in on dessert and some good belly laughs! I love my family! 

Saturday 7.9.22

Woke up with my eye crusted shut. Deduced that I most likely had Pink Eye since all my symptoms pointed in that direction. Decided to treat it with the ointment the vet had given me for Leroy a couple months ago. Helped Danielle create four marble paintings. Hydro-coating is fun! Thought about Thursday Cleaning and even dusted a few rooms, before deciding to roll it over to next week! Did a bit of desk work. Since I should probably quarantine for a few days, Danl and I agreed that it would be an excellent opportunity to “Airbnb” at his mom’s place for the weekend since they are out West. Packed our bags and our dogs and away we went in the rain! Diesel was beyond delighted to be going on a little Road Trip! Ordered in our favorite Socio's Pizza for supper. It never stopped storming enough to swim. Popped popcorn and relaxed the evening away.

Sunday 7.10.22

The dogs and Danielle slept well in their beds away from beds! Danl and I have reached that Middle Aged point in life where we sleep best in Our Own Bed. But it was still a delight to wake up in different surroundings! Also a delight to see the sun! And to feel that my eye condition was greatly improved! Yay for vet meds! I cooked some waffles and sausage for breakfast, before hitting the pool with Danielle. I was enlisted to score points for various acrobatic movements/jumps. Listened to Mr. B’s good sermon on Choices. It was deemed that I was well enough for a quick grocery run to Publix for More Food. Enjoyed some salmon on crackers for starters, then Daniel grilled some delicious steaks, feta-stuffed mushrooms, and garlic sourdough bread. Jace, Erica, and Summer joined us for a couple hours. The sun continued to shine and we continued to swim. Frozen gelato and San Pellegrino sparkling limonatas cooled us off mid afternoon. Snacked around, trying to eat up the remaining food. All too soon it was time to Clean Up. Got Rosie the Roomba going and proceeded to pack up. From rain we came, and into rain we returned. A mighty deluge that almost drowned us since we don’t have a carport or garage. All in all though, it was a wonderful weekend. Danl even admitted that he had been able to relax enough to stop thinking about Work for awhile. #score

Farewell from the Faircloths!

Simple Satisfaction of the Week: Reading books with colorful satin bookmarks built into the spine is such a delight! Dana White’s little book that I’m reading now has a deep orange ribbon that compliments the cover so well!

Rueful Regret of the Week: I didn’t always keep to my S.I.M.P.L.E life plan in regards to eating only one dessert per day! My life seems to be filled with Special Occasions. 

An Evening You Will {not} Forget for the Rest of Your Life

 

Once upon a time, as in yesterday, the twenty-first of April 2022, the MRGA {Make Reading Great Again} book club girls minus one plus an honorary member,  attended Sean Dietrich's live one-man show at held at the historic venue of the Monroe County Museum Courthouse. But Mr. Sean did not keep his promise posted on Instagram that he would provide us with "an evening you will forget for the rest of your life!"

But let me back up a bit and give you the backstory preluding this event. Katie chose Will the Circle Be Unbroken which is the memoir of Sean's life for our February book. And we all absolutely loved it! I personally was not even able to read it in public as it made me either sob or guffaw intermittently! Very fittingly, we met at Jack's to discuss it over fried chicken! Anyway, a week or so after that, I was in our local Atmore library chatting with the librarians, mentioning how much we had loved this book, and asked if they would ever get him to come to Atmore for a book signing! "Well, you know he's gonna be in Monroeville in April, right?" "NO! I did not! All the deets PLEASE!" We found out we had to go in person to get these precious paper tickets; only two tickets per person. Three of us were able to get right on up to the Monroe County Library, whereas I, due to busyness, was not able to get up there for another two days. I was nervously praying that the Good Lowered {Lord} would see fit to bless me with two more tickets! And He did! I was able to get #s 160 and 161 of 175! 

Fast forward to the beautiful spring evening of last night. We wanted to be early as to be able to nab a good parking spot and enjoy a leisurely supper at the local hole in the wall haunt, The Courthouse Cafe. Can't beat a diner-style bacon cheeseburger with sweet tater "Finch" fries! Also, I think they could win an award for Best Fried Dill Pickles in Alabama! But not for Most Air-Conditioned Indoor Dining. The courthouse doors were set to open at 6:30pm, so we enjoyed watching the political rally that was taking place on the lawn while waiting in line basking in the balmy southern April evening. At last the old doors were jubilantly sprung aside and we were able to enter to meet Mrs. Sean, Jamie who is the CEO, and buy books if we wished. She was just as lovely and personable as I had imagined her to be! At her recommendation, I selected Whistling Dixie to add to my collection. 

Then we entered the courtroom and settled ourselves on the second bench back, nearly taking the entire row. The energy and excitement of the crowd was palpable! Chatting with the elderly ladies in front of us, it truly felt like a big family gathering! And more than a bit surreal that we would actually be seeing and hearing Sean of the South in the flesh in a few moments! As this event was in celebration of the 95th Anniversary of the Monroe County Library, that was duly recognized and Sean was introduced before he popped out on stage from one of the back doors.

I find it hard to describe with ordinary words what the next hour and a half held! Sean sang. Liltingly, beautifully, in his rich southern accent accompanied by the old guitar he writes about. Moving smoothly from one song to the next, he even threw in a fitting bout of yodeling! He sang old hymns, slow hymns, funny songs, and Vacation Bible School songs. And "You Are My Sunshine," which Jamie told us is the title of his next book set to be released in the fall. And we sang with him, and clapped, and laughed until we cried at the stories he told with gestures and facial expressions as much as with his voice. And we watched his eyebrows which told stories all on their own.

And then it was over. But not quite! Because then we got to speak with him; and he hugged our necks and signed our books, and seemed humbly pleased that we knew who he was and had chosen his book for our book club! And he and I shared a ginger moment when he told me he liked my hair and I replied that I liked his! 

Thus it ended, this night we will not forget for the rest of our lives.

Becoming Thirty-five

So, I’ve been THIRTY-FIVE for a whole week now! A solidly middle-aged 35! It doesn’t seem right. I feel like I should be 28. But, I digress. 

June 18, 2021, was most definitely an "EAT CAKE FOR BREAKFAST" kind of day! I had taken blueberry cheesecake cupcakes to VBS for snacks the night before and luckily had ONE left! So my rainy birthday day started off right with that small delight, several slices of medium cheddar cheese, and black Griffin’s Wharf coffee. After donning my new cute Joules rain boots which were a birthday present from my bestie Jill, Danielle and I scooted up to the Atmore Library to take in a “rodeo” that was presented for the summer reading program. Once we said our heeyahs there, we headed to good ole WeCare where I had a $5 birthday reward to spend! I mean how cool is it to have $5 off at a thrift-store?! Erica Lyn and Summer joined us there, my mom soon also. We scavenged and dug and smiled and scored! I fell so in love with a comfy, Old Navy, thin, cotton blouse that looked cute over my dress, that I just wore it out of the store and for the rest of the day! It looked clean and smelled freshly laundered! What you don’t know, doesn’t hurt you! I also got 3 more books, and a small kitchen strainer I had been needing. Danielle got a large Ryan’s World pirate treasure chest. This daughter of mine… sometimes, I just don’t know why I let her choose “one thing.”

Katie and kiddos joined us at Cafe 251 for an amazing lunch! It was my first time dining there, and it did not let me down! For one, the kids’ play area is just beyond  brilliant! They quickly gobbled chicken fingers and then happily played away while we lingered over our lunches in peace, mostly. I had chosen the “Greek Goddess” wrap which was an excellent selection, along with loaded baked potato salad and sparkling water! My fave. Thanks, Mom, for treating us all! Next stop was Mutton Hollow Farm where Danielle and I gathered fresh eggs and picked Japanese cucumbers from Rhonda’s garden since they were gone. I was most delighted to open the gift she had left for me on the counter in a darling reusable bag! The electric teapot I had been longing for, a peachy tote bag, and 3 cans of peach Sunkist! YUM! (Would be ideal over ice cream for a peaches and cream float!) Once home, I caught up on birthday messages and peachy puns and got Danielle ready for her last night of VBS. Then Danl said he wanted to take me out for tacos! He couldn’t have done better than giving me a date night, authentic street tacos from Alcapuco, and cash to spend! (Perfect for the impending Prime Days!) The VBS Balloon Liftoff was the next item of the evening; followed by listening to the children enthusiastically sing their songs! Best music ever! Danielle was ecstatic to be onstage. Back home, it was time for more cake! This time it was 7-up pound cake with peach tea. I tried to stay up until midnight like I always purpose to do on my birthdays, so I don’t “miss” any of it, but alas. I remember seeing 11:46pm on the ceiling before drifting off into a sweets dream-filled slumber. 

 Becoming 35 got the best of me. 

Thankful on Thursday & Friday!

(I wrote half of this list yesterday and decided to finish and publish it today!)

Today I’m thankful for...

Cheap, chic $1.99 flip flops from Family Dollar...

Friends who are like family...

Ripe red garden tomatoes sprinkled with kosher salt...

Homemade peach milkshakes...

The  scent of Gain “Island Fresh” laundry detergent...

Doctors who care about you like a person instead of just a name on a chart...

Great Value frozen red raspberries...

Books that make you more grateful for your own good life...

Atmore’s splash pad...

Watermelons stands with crude spray-painted signs...

Family who are like friends...

The weeks that I actually make menu plans! 

The realization that we are all more alike than different. 

Monday Musing & Menus

Today was a really good day.

 

It didn't start out that way...

after Danl left early for work, and Danielle was wide awake, be-bopping around, I hunkered down on the couch under a blanket for an hour, gloomy and glowering. 

Finally I hoisted myself up, brewed some coffee, started smiling, ordered Bloom planners from Amazon for Rhonda and me, completed my morning routine, did yoga, (Danielle joined me! Seriously, seeing a toddler doing the downward dog is just plain adorable!) fixed Disney Princess Spaghettio's and leftover fajitas for lunch, conquered a kitchen mission #flylady, ran to the bank(s), found Jacob an unread book, supervised Neil and Danielle, Instant Potted some venison chili, worked at my desk, ate supper, blended fresh fruit smoothies, hung out with my family, bathed and bedded Danielle, went to bed with Danl, got back up, made a pineapple-raspberry cake and orange 7-up jello for Sewing tomorrow, got hungry, devoured some "tortiyahs" chips & Diet Coke, and now I'm blogging! 

My gorgeous, wood-grain planner gets here Wednesday, and I cannot wait!

Thanks to all of you who sent me suggestions via blog comment or whatsapp! I really appreciated y'all's input!

Here are my menus for this week... I planned them on my phone while in the deer stand. #hungrywhilehunting

SOUL FOOD SUNDAY

Fried Pork Chops

Tossed Salad

Cast Iron Skillet Fried Apples

MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT MONDAY

Venison Chili

Cheese & Crackers

Pickles

Leftover Jiffy Corn Muffins

Fruit Smoothies

TACO TUESDAY

PW Fried Tacos (venison)

Chips & Salsa

Sliced Avocados

PIE WEDNESDAY

Stromboli

Applesauce

Del Monte Corn

THROW IT ON THE GRILL THURSDAY

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

Foil-packet Grilled Cheesy Fries

Grilled Green Beans

FISH FRIDAY

Creamy Crab-topped Tilapia

Garlic Bread

Popeye Spinach

SANDWICH SATURDAY

Chili Cheese Dog Bake

(with leftover chili from Monday)
Jello

Cucumber Slaw

Hungry yet?! 

Goodnight!

Bring on the Book Club!

Back in July, I joined a BOOK CLUB! Which is something that had always been on my bucket list! Quilting clubs, exercise groups, etc. never held any appeal for me, but Book Club?! Count me in! What could be better than reading a fabulous book and then discussing it with your favorite people while eating food?? There are 10 of us, all local except 2. We plan to read/discuss one book a month, taking turns choosing the titles. 

August - When God Says Go by Elizabeth Laing Thompson. 

September - Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden.

October - MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertche.

 And November was my turn to choose! Always enamored by the French, I selected 

Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. 

With the holidays, we got a bit off schedule and didn't have our discussion on it until last night! I had so wanted to meet in the Magical Alleyway in Atmore, but alas. It was far too moist and mouldy out. Instead, we dined and discussed every nuance and then some at the Alabama Wing House which ended up being the perfect location! They seated us in a secluded area, and we had the best time being very American eating finger lickin' good wings, fries, and pies whilst debating the ways of the French! Cups of coffee later, we decided that although none of us feel like we are chic, (btw, this word is always pronounced "sheek") we all share the love of reading and learning and expanding our horizons!

January's book is Chop, Chop by L.N. Cronk. 

Mine is on the way from Abebooks.com and I cannot wait! This first go around, I am getting hard-copies of each book and am making whoever chose it write in it why they chose it and sign it. #sentimental

Rest Up & Dress Up!

Happy 2019!
This is not my New Year's Letter in case you are wondering! I may not even write one actually...time will tell! 

I love to choose a theme word or phrase for the year as per Gretchen Rubin's suggestion. It's a challenge to see what word you can come up with that sums up the ambitions, plans, dreams and schemes that you want to embrace in the new year! 

Last year I chose HOME. 

I wanted to stay home more, to "joy-spark" our entire home, and to learn to love being a homemaker! Overall, I'm mostly happy with how the year went! I "think" I was home more, I consciously tried to have days where I never left the premises. I found a pillow cover for the the couch that says "Let's Stay Home." Danielle even told me one day, "Mommy, I love that you are home." And I loved it too. I didn't get the whole house "joy-sparked" but I think I only lack 4 cabinets, and the drawer under the oven! So that's pretty good! I wish I knew how many POUNDS of accumulated clutter went the way of the waste heap or to WeCare! By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Marie Kondo's method and books.

So...for this year I chose a phrase, "REST UP & DRESS UP!" 

Before you are imagining boa scarves and polka dot socks in high-heeled shoes, hear me out! Obviously, "rest up" is pretty self-explanatory! I simply do not sleep enough. I'm a night owl by nature, and I always want to "over-live" and squeeze every last minute out of each day...not wise. I do realize it's almost midnight now, BUT I actually did my extra resting this morning since Danielle went back to sleep in our bed! Score! Also, I want to lay my unnecessary ambitions to rest this year. I want to choose cuddling over computing, relaxing instead of resisting, being present over trying to be perfect. 

Okay, now for the dress up part! Reading Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott was revolutionary! Now I am inspired to incorporate the "10 item core wardrobe" idea into my life! (More on that in another post if y'all are interested) I think it will definitely simplify my life! So I will be focusing on clothes! And sewing! I have decided that I love to sew and that it's amazing that I have been taught how to create couture clothing. So there. 

Now off to rest up I go! 

(once I find my other polka dot sock..!!)

a GRATEFUL heart

I am thankful for life... and that it goes on.

For God's protection, our guardian angel, for my friend who breathed a prayer particularly for me earlier in the day...

For airbags, car seats, safety restraints, and crash-testing technology...

That no one was injured when I rear-ended a Dodge pickup yesterday evening in the gloaming...

that the couple I hit were not angry or upset...For family and friends who stopped so soon to make sure we were OK... and got my Jeep off the road before anyone hit it...and came and got my groceries and purchases from earlier in the day...that Danl was home and could come comfort us and sit with me for the hours we waited on FHP. That Danielle was not traumatized...and seemed to understand that the Jeep was seriously injured and needed to go the vehicle hospital...That the young officer who worked the scene was kind and considerate and gave me the least possible citation.

I am thankful for pecans... And that I had plenty to re-toast for tomorrow's candied sweet potatoes since I severely over-toasted the first batch! #burnt

I am thankful for family recipes with notes at the bottom. 

#auntrose #candiedsweetpotatoes #schneidercookbook

I am thankful for the MRGA Book Club. It has, and is, totally enriching my life in in so many ways!

I am thankful that Mel brought me coffee this morning and took Danielle home with her to "help" take care of Baby Ellie.

I am thankful for crispy, ice-cold Diet Coke.

I am thankful my parents lent us their extra van for me to drive until we get our insurance rental.

I am thankful for Katie's crumb-topped banana bread. #perfection

I am thankful for ibuprofen.

I am thankful for our cozy home, for the warm bed into which I am about to crawl!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL!

CURRENTLY...

(Disclaimer- I saw and saved this post idea, thinking it would be a good format to use to get me into writing again! So here goes!)

CURRENTLY... The 14th of May, 2018!  

INSPIRED BY... The moms on our BabyLife chat. #keepingitreal

WATCHING... Diesel begging to go out - AGAIN! 🙄

READING... The Four Tendencies by my favorite author Gretchen Rubin, and Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. I started and stalled on this one, but now I’m gonna read it through! 

THINKING ABOUT... How I’m going to blog more now that I downloaded the “BlogTouch” app which makes blogging from my phone so much more doable!! And how I'm going to keep my phone cleaner LOL. The cashier at Piggly commented that alcohol works wonders! 

LISTENING TO... The clicking of my Insant Pot as it turns whole milk into creamy yogurt. 

DREAM LIFE... The one I’m living! Daniel spoiled me rotten yesterday - He planned ahead and purchased the makings for a seafood feast! Once Danielle and I were home from church, he told me to sit and relax while he cooked his amazing garlic parmesan baked oysters, grilled Royal Red shrimp, yellow and zucchini squash with mushrooms, toasted garlic bread, and poured pink lemonade! Then later he fried homemade French fries and fresh grouper! I say the way to a “woman’s” heart is through her stomach! I also absolutely adored the handmade card he and Danielle created for me. 💗 #feelingunworthy #bestmothersdayever 

EATING... Piles of plain and lemon-filled Krispy Kreme donuts! #fundraiser

DRINKING... Too much Diet Coke! 

Outside my Rain-spattered Window...

Outside my window... the last drops of rain are slowing slipping down. I was gonna get out and go to church tonight but with no carport or garage; the current deluge "rained" me in!

I am thinking....that it's really hard to know what to do sometimes when both options feel "right" and either choice will make one person happy and the other one sad.

I am thankful...that Danielle loves to eat! There's just something so satisfying about feeding a child. We had Socio's "deetda" with a friend in Pace for lunch today after checking on one of Daniel's jobs. It is truly the best pizza ever! We say this every time we eat it!

In the kitchen... sits a cast iron Dutch oven of boiled peanuts. They turn blackish/purplish from the iron and are just plain good! Try it!

I am wearing... BLACK! BTW, is black a color? Or the absence of color? Either way, I love it.

I am creating...a new hot pink and black lumberjack plaid dress in my mind. Hopefully in reality tomorrow. Or wait; make that later today. It's 12:37 AM.

I am going...to blog more! I've never missed or remembered that work I didn't get done or the zzzz's I didn't z when I chose to write instead! I decided to use this format again tonight because when I haven't written in a while, I feel overwhelmed by all the things I've missed touching on, and this style helps me condense it and feel "current."

I am reading.... Spark JOY by Marie Kondo. I need this woman to come to my house! ASAP. And I'm marathon-reading a new friend's awesome blog!

I am hoping...to sleep double. This is something I wish often was possible!To get the benefits of 2 hours of sleep for every hour slept lol. 

I am looking forward to...taking Danielle to a pumpkin patch. I will let her choose her own pumpkin even if it's really ugly.

I am learning...to accept myself. To be myself, but be my best self.

Around the house....things, stuff, clutter, is drowning us! You wouldn't know that I've been slowly KonMaring for a month now...you wouldn't know it, but I do. I've actually, amazingly taken several loads to WeCare and I can breathe just a wee bit better now. A tiny bit of negative energy from things that don't spark joy has flown away! YAY!

One of my favorite things.... is also one of my worst habits! STAYING UP instead sleeping like normal people do.  I mean I do go to bed when Daniel does, but I get back up! And relish the perfect silence of solitude, and read, and putter, and mutter, and tidy up, and eat, and think, and dream, and have my devotions, and write in my 5 year diary, and Danielle's 5 year diary, and my devotion journal, and sometimes like tonight, I blog. 

All is Well

You know how sometimes you have that feeling that all's right with the world and there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? That's how I felt today! I didn't expect to; it was just was of those rare days that actually gets better and better instead of worse for once! And nothing huge or glamorous happened. Just sweet daily life! Daniel ended up taking the day off instead of working like he had planned. He suggested waffles for breakfast, which carb-loving me jumped right on! I threw chopped pecans in mine. Sublime! Then we all pittered around the house, just relishing togetherness. I hadn't properly "sorted" (as the Brits would say) my kitchen all week, so I washed up non-dishwasherable dishes for a good while. Danielle took an amazing 2.5 hour nap! After our lunch of Kraft shell macaroni and cheese and leftover brown sugar spiral sliced ham with horseradish, we cleaned up out in the yard and Daniel cranked up the lawnmower for the first time this year! Danielle was delighted to help mow the dog pen. At one point, she really pushed on the right lever and they leaped out of a straight stripe! Then she and I chillaxed on the front porch watching Daddy mow; she in her Little Tikes swing and I perching on the Pelican cooler I had just cleaned up from last week's oysters. We ate Mayfield Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream and soaked up the sun. The weather just kept getting better all day too. I had been pining for fresh pine straw in all the beds, so once Daniel was finished with the yard, he and Danielle drove the white truck back around behind the house and I raked up a large haystack of the free much-needed mulch. I distributed it around the front porch while Taby stomped happily after her daddy pruning trees. She LOVES being outside. And as I watched her toddling around, I couldn't help thinking, "Is this really my beautiful life? It's just too perfect...I'm beyond blessed." (disclaimer - I have MANY moments when life seems quite real and I have no problem believing that it IS my life lol.) Anyway, snap back to reality. Our yard, beds, and porch now look loved and cared for at last. They really look good if I may say so myself! Especially the porch with its new pale blue $5 metal table from Family Dollar! Danielle had wilted after her afternoon of adventures, so I put her down for a late nap. Then I sat on our front porch like a true Southerner and watched the sun go down as I ate a Cutie, drank water, and read in Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. Love that book. Levon Kimmons had come over, so Danl was out shooting the breeze with him. Supper was Zatarain's Cilantro Lime Rice, Walmart shrimp grilled on skewers, cheese green beans, and Reese Pieces store-bought cookie dough cookies barely baked, then frozen. Outlandishly delicious! And now day is done, gone the sun. All is well. Amen.

Outside my window...

Outside my window....the grey clouds of a summer thunderstorm are looming.

I am thinking....that some homemade vanilla ice cream would hit the spot right about now!

I am thankful...that I don’t have any checking to do or lesson plans to make! Definitely a perk of my new office job at Schneider Farm Fence.

In the kitchen...sits Danl’s new Savage .22 bolt-action , bull-barrel rifle he bought with birthday money. I got to shoot it today and totally annihilated a leaf!

I am wearing...an old dress that I call my “Carrot Branch” dress. The fabric came from WeCare Thrift Store.

I am creating...my dress for Alisha & Pierre’s wedding! Once again, I aspire to channel Princess Kate.

I am going...to go out an d help Daniel reinstall the running boards on Bonnie.

I am reading.... The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Attention Deficit Disorder In Adults.

(I feel quite strongly that I have this wonderful disorder because…Oh yeah I could really use some chocolate cake!)

I am hoping...to get the orange hall bathroom “minted” this week! And also “Londonified.”

I am looking forward to...flying to Calgary on June 28! And attending Pierre & Alisha’s wedding on July 4! And seeing my little sis tie the knot with Shane on July 12! And listening to my cousin Renae & Erik Olson say their “I do’s” on August 23!

I am learning...that there is nothing like having family that you can count on to always be there for you.

Around the house....things are looking better! I’m still a FlyBaby in the process of becoming completely FlyWashed!

One of my favorite things.... is sitting in my red chair in the evening knowing that the dishes are done and the house has been moderately straightened and broomed while visiting with Daniel about his day or the guns he wants to buy while he relaxes in his ninja turtle green La-Z-boy. (Talk about a run-on sentence!)

tell me quick before I faint....

Note: I wrote this post last night, but wasn't able to finish editing it before the hubby called me away to bed. So hence the past tense.

Tell me quick before I faint, pitch them now or keep them quaint?? The issue at hand is several issues actually. Think plural in its greatest sense. Beautiful, treasured issues of Southern Living that I have hoarded ever since I began getting my own copies. Last week as I was decluttering in Zone 4 {master bedroom} I felt compelling to follow FlyLady's advice and simply purge them. When do I ever look at them?! Have I even sneaked a tiny peak at any of them in the last past year? No..... So! With great resolve I hauled them out from under the bed and put them bravely beside the recycling bin. And....for some reason....there they stayed....I guess I wasn't as ready to part with them as I thought I was. But now today, before my resolve completely dribbled away, I grabbed the basket and resolutely headed for the curb to pitch them as tomorrow the big green go-green truck is scheduled to grab them. I slowly started to dump, and then stopped as a few lovely, glossy issues fell in with a plop. It felt like I was throwing away my friends!! Standing out by the road like a ninny, I started to page through each issue for closure, tearing out ideas/pictures that nabbed my attention. A recipe for sweet potato pie with marshmallow meringue that I had baked and loved, {even a few tell-tale splatters on the page} was added to the memento pile. But the fading light of the summer night along with the whining and feasting of the mosquitoes zapped me back to reality. I could do this! I would be strong, and would fight my hoarding gene instead of letting it take a'holt of me! With a small sigh, the rest of the pile slid silently into the great netherlands of the recycling world. Who knows? Maybe, instead of living the stagnant lives of their boring hoarded existence under my bed, those old issues will someday be in my hands again as the pages of a haute new copy of Southern Living! Wait! Speaking of "new" copies, I haven't even absorbed my last two issues properly! So I shall sit and bask in the glow of my latest decluttering accomplishment whilst I lose myself in the South with my current friends instead of hanging on to those from the past.

P.S. I really think this new plan of tossing the old issue as soon as the new one arrives, will help me to heartily enjoy the issue at hand as in cooking the recipes that strike me and cutting out ideas {or finding them online and pinning them} straight away!

right now...

Outside my window...the waves are crashing and the sun is shining over Orange Beach!

I am thinking... that the shrimp scampi pizza from Lillian's we just devoured was the best pizza I've ever had!

I am thankful... that we are celebrating our 9th year of love!

In the kitchen...it's CLOSED. Yay!

I am wearing... a pensacola beach t-shirt and a royal blue skirt.

I am creating...a fresh outlook.

I am going... to highly recommend the Perdido Beach Resort!

I am reading...3 books! And the Mountains Echoed, Be Happy or I'll Scream, and Exploiting My Baby.

I am hoping... that it won't be raining tomorrow.

I am looking forward to... sleeping way in again in the morning.

I am learning… that I mess up so much, and need to go back and apologize.

Around the house...I don't know what is happening! Mel is dog-sitting and cleaning! Love my sweet sis!

One of my favourite things... is spending quality time with my hubby.

We are right here by the "Pass" in the west tower of those orangish hotels.

a shopping day = a little more giveaway

The giveaway gift is now complete! Aunt Tricia, this dazzling box of black British tea will also be bestowed upon you once the British bookmark finally arrives. {Sigh of relief to have finally found something else Britannic that I liked! I think things of the mother country are going out of style!} It felt strange but blissful to be out shopping before 4:00 p.m. on a school day! Since I couldn't get an after school hours appointment with Dr. Cleveland, and it didn't make sense to rush back to teach for maybe an hour, Roxie subbed the whole day for me! I met my sweet mom-in-law for a quality-time lunch at Cheddar's. Today was the day to try "Chicken 'n Waffles!" Loved it! Thanks, Mom! For some reason I was totally in turtle gear and went slowly plodding around the stores, looking at everything and buying basically nothing. I kept telling myself, "Less is More." and "Think of all the stuff you have piled up everywhere at home." And it worked! I barely remember what the things were that I thought I wanted to buy! ....except that darling pillow that said "sparkle" in glittery copper letters...and that aqua scarf with the little birds all over it...and that emerald fabric at JoAnn's.....guess I'm not as good at forgetting as I thought I was....but I pinched my pennies and only came home with a birthday gift for Anne, a yoga mat that I'm going to ingeniously cut into a mod-looking shower mat, a book-themed journal to use for checking books out of my home library {no more not knowing where my books are?!} from World Market, the British Invasion tea also from World Market, 2 books from a thrift store {Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell and Be Happy or I'll Scream by Sheri Lynch. Gonna send this one to you for your birthday, Annie! :) Looks like your style!} and some awesome essential stuff from WallyWorld like deodorant and paper towel and trash bags. So unglamorous but so necessary. Why can't they at least make it more appealing to shop at Walmart?! Like maybe lime green shopping carts...food samples...tellers with British accents...