Friday Photos

Hello! Happy Friday, my friends. This week passed quietly, filled with blissfully ordinary days. Morning prayers and coffee, afternoon lessons in the schoolroom, dinner, and cozy evenings together watching television. Big Brother is winding down, just as Survivor and Dancing With The Stars are getting started. There is something about this time of year. It gets darker sooner, so we tend to gather after dinner with cozy throws to watch our shows together. Pups too.

In other news, Steve is stepping up his lunch game. This is one of my favorites. 

As is this peel-and-eat shrimp he gets from some friends up the road.

And lastly, Steve braved the wind to capture this beautiful picture last night.

We are anticipating some rain and wind, depending on the storm's path. Hopefully it turns and goes back out to sea. Please stay safe, everyone. This weekend, I plan to stay in and decorate for Halloween! I will put on a YouTube with a spooky vibe, and add some Halloween touches around the house. We will have Mass, and then maybe I will make a pot of soup and some Halloween brownies for dinner. I hope you have a nice autumn weekend, my friends. Thank you for stopping!        

Billie Jo

                                                     

Autumn

 

Well, autumn is making her presence known here in Maryland! Today is cloudy, windy, and cozy, just how I like my autumn days to be. How about you?

Do you prefer...

1. All things Pumpkin Spice or Caramel Apple?

2. Watching a movie or going apple picking?

3. Saturday and Sunday football or anything but?

4. Yards filled with colorful leaves or raking and bagging those leaves up?

5. Comfort TV Shows or brand new ones?

And just for fun...

1. How many cozy throw blankets can you see in your home right now?

2. What is the one fall treat you buy every year, no matter what?

3. What is one movie you watch every single year when fall arrives?

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Fall!

Billie Jo

My Answers:

1. Pumpkin Spice. Always.

2. I choose a movie any day.

3. Football all day? Ugh. I can do one Steeler game a weekend!

4. I love leaves on the ground. I never quite got the raking thing. 

5. Hmmm. New episodes of favorite shows. Does that count?

1. Five fall throw blankets, including the one I am using now.

2. I buy the bags of little Reese pumpkins every year.

3. I watch the original 1978 Halloween movie. At least twice!

Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday morning, my friends. And Happy Fall! Officially! Tomorrow. So, I guess it is Happy Fall Eve! I am so ready for that true fall feeling, you know? That certain, distinct feeling you get when you step outside in late September and into October? It is nostalgic and cozy. And cooler too. 

This weekend was lovely around here. Friday night, Madison and Nicolas hosted the most beautiful and fun dinner to celebrate my birthday. I requested one of my very favorites, my mom's goulash, and Madison replicated it perfectly! It tasted like my childhood and reminded me yet again of the beauty of the circle of life. My mom used to make that delicious meal for me, then I made it for my family, and now, they make it for me. 

A sweet friend got me a most delicious birthday cake, and Madison made my new favorite brownies for dessert. They are delicious! Peyton and Chris were here too, so it was an extra special birthday celebration. And now, I am fifty-seven!

The remainder of the weekend was quiet and productive. On Saturday, I did all the things on my list: Laundry, washed bedding, vacuumed, swam, showered, and then made a meal plan and a grocery list while snuggled under the new blanket Madison and Nicolas got me and while smelling the new candle Peyton and Chris got me.

Oh, I made up some grab-and-go snack boxes too. Sunday is a relaxing day around here. That is why I like to get everything done on Saturday. Sunday is for slow mornings with hot coffee, morning swims, afternoon movies, and football, followed by a nap. Then mass and dinner to end the weekend. I think it is easy to fill our days without giving ourselves a chance to simply be. Sundays have become our time, and it is actually really nice. And finally, I resumed my morning walks today, and fall was all around!

Have a lovely Monday, my friends!

Happy Fall!

Billie Jo

Outrageous Brownies

Why not make a pan of brownies to celebrate? Cozy season is here!

Fall Photos On A Friday

Hello! And Happy Friday, my friends! Well, it has been a while. Between the sickness and the Blogger issues, I haven't been able to be present here as much as I like. I am feeling better, and so far, Blogger is too, so let's get back to normal, one of my favorite words. Normal.

A few weeks ago, I decorated the house for fall, one of my very favorite things to do, and as the evenings arrive earlier, the house becomes cozier and settles in for the night. This time of year is my favorite. Summer is tucked away with all her excitement and activity; hot days and muggy nights become crisper and cooler. Iced coffees become hot pumpkin spice lattes, and the grill gives way to the crockpot. And cozy clothes are truly cozy once again. Last night I took a few pictures of how our house looks as autumn envelopes us once again.

Have a lovely autumn weekend, my friends. I will be sipping pumpkin coffee and visiting with you! I can't wait to get caught up! 

Happy Friday!

Billie Jo

Wednesday!

 

We are all feeling better!!!!!

Be back Friday!

Billie Jo

We Interrupt Our Regular Scheduled Programming

But wait, there's more.

Yes. The entire family. Some were here at home. Some at their own home. Some at the condo. We were dropping like flies. If it weren't so horrible, it would have been humorous. Fortunately, some were affected less than others, so while I have little to no memory of Friday at all, Steve felt well enough to provide Saltines and fluids regularly. It is Sunday night now, and I think we are on the mend. Tomorrow I plan to open the doors and windows, change the bedsheets, and have a dance party with several cans of Lysol. 

We will resume our regularly scheduled blogging on Wednesday with a catch-up post. And I hope to visit with you all soon! 

Billie Jo

September

 

Happy September, my friends.

Billie Jo

Labor Day Morning Coffee

Good Monday morning, my friends! And Happy Labor Day! The pups and I are up early, and although it is the perfect day for one, I opted to skip my walk and enjoy the quiet of this September morning with my coffee and soft throw instead. I will lace those sneakers up tomorrow. For now, however, I am soaking in the start of my favorite time of year. With pumpkin coffee, of course.

I hope your weekend was all you planned and then some. Here, it was productive, enjoyable, and fun. Saturday, Flynn worked, and I accomplished all the things around the house that require me to be motivated to do: vacuum, wash comforters, and scrub the kitchen sink. We went to Mass and then to the condo for pizza. Sunday I got groceries, swam, took a cozy afternoon nap, and then made dinner. What did I make for dinner? I'm glad you asked! I made a delicious pot of soup with a recipe that Peyton gave me. She made it for us the last time we were back in Pennsylvania, and we loved it. I will link the recipe below. It is Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup, and you will want to make some!

I also put together a meat-and-cheese tray. Sometimes it is easier to do dinner like that when I am not sure when everyone will be home. 

Took a quick picture before Mass on Saturday to send to Madison. She approved. 

And lastly, a little corner of my pantry I have been messing with forever. I have it just how I want. Madison got me the pretty painting as a reminder of our trip to the Hamptons. We saw hydrangeas everywhere. 

Well, although we are having hot dogs later to celebrate Labor Day, we are also homeschooling today, because why not? Have a wonderful Labor Day, my friends. You know what this means, right? Time for all things cozy! Cooler days, darker skies, flickering candles, soft throw blankets, pumpkin spice everything, sweatshirts and leggings, changing leaves, and that nostalgic feeling of slowing down, snuggling in, and being present.  

 

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Monday!

Happy fall!

Billie Jo

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Soup