A Weekend In Pictures

 

Farmer's Market dinner - A Saturday Drive Into Town - A Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher - Cookie Baking - Healthy Pups - Evening Rides With Dad 

Summer!

Have a lovely Monday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Zucchini Cookies

Friday Again

Happy Weekend, my friends! We have a lot of nothing planned, except for Mass and some time on the beach. Steve and Madison usually go to the farmer's market and get all the fresh produce and bread for the week. Once they do that, I will put together a rough idea of the meals we will have for the week. 

I don't have many pictures to share with you today. All three of the pups were experiencing some type of stomach situation and were not feeling themselves. We had a quieter-than-usual week, keeping close to home! I am happy to report that after a few days of rest and a modified diet of chicken and rice, they all appear to be back to normal. 

In other exciting news, I've finally figured out who's behind the serenade we receive so often here. It appears to be this guy and a whole lot of his friends!

Oh! Madison made muffins! She brought them over, and I thought yet again how happy I am that my kids love to bake.

I'd hate to leave you without a few more pictures, and since I have no more of my own, I took a few that I found online, and kept them for some reason or other, perhaps for this very moment. 

Have a lovely weekend, my friends!

Thanks for reading.

I appreciate you!

Billie Jo

July

Each month has its own unique feel. January's feel is all about fresh starts, new beginnings, and hunkering down for winter. We are now on the other side of the Fourth of July, and the beginning of one of my favorite times of year is upon us. I have always loved the feel of this time of year. When I was a teacher, I started to think about my classroom theme for my little second graders this time of year. When my kids were younger, I would start thinking about school supplies and Halloween costumes as the fall magazines began to arrive in my mailbox. And now, as a homeschool mother of one high schooler, I am starting to organize stacks of Algebra and Chemistry books on my kitchen table.

That isn't all I am doing, though. I love this time of year, the time after the Fourth of July. It's still summer, with long days spent sipping iced coffee and nights spent outside, staring at the sky. All my favorites: swirling fall leaves, soft, cozy throws, pumpkin spice everything, and thoughts of spooky decor are beginning to appear online, and although I am not ready to fully immerse myself in them, I can start to look, and smile, and bookmark things I don't need and more than likely won't buy. The point is, they are there. I can enjoy the feeling of fall and all the coziness for a bit. I can imagine and plan, and then I can close my laptop, pour another iced coffee, and head outside for a few moments of warm sun. The pumpkins, colored leaves, apple-scented candles, and cozy, soft throws can wait. For just a little bit longer.

Happy Wednesday, my friends.

Enjoy your July day!

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee

 

Good Monday-after-a-holiday morning, my friends! How are we all feeling today? I always feel a bit melancholy on days like today. When you plan for and look forward to a particular time and event, it is natural to feel a sense of sadness when it comes to an end. Although we did not plan anything more than spending time together when Peyton and Chris came to spend the Fourth of July with us at the beach, I couldn't help but feel some sadness when they packed up and said goodbye yesterday. I cleared up the remnants of the holiday, mainly some red, white, and blue paper products, threw in a load of laundry, and jumped in bed to take a nap. When I awoke, I was greeted with a happy and festive text from Peyton, and I felt happy and thankful for the time we shared together.

Here are a few pictures from our Fourth of July weekend together. 

Everyone else took advantage of the warm, calm ocean water, and I took advantage of that.

Fresh from the oven, still warm, donuts from down the road are a game changer.

Obligatory pictures of the ocean because no matter how many times I see it, I am still in awe of its beauty and continuity. And I made a friend! He was quiet and didn't hang around too long. We will get along just fine.

And lastly, watching fireworks with Madison's Fourth of July songs playing in sync always brings tears to my eyes. And this year, even more so, as I heard a special song begin...

My mom loved everything patriotic. She loved a parade, and she loved the fireworks. She also loved this song, and I can still hear her singing along!

Have a lovely Monday, my friends!

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo