Wrapping Up The Week

Good Friday morning, my friends! I hope the week has been good to you. Here are a few photos from the week in my little part of the world. 

Crisp, clear mornings ~ 

Lunches for the husband ~

A guest room tidy ~

A favorite meal ~ 

A cozy kitchen view ~ 

A backseat driver on a ride to the beach ~ 

 Fresh jammies in my spot on the couch there ~

A favorite breakfast ~

And a beautiful view ~

Not pictured: Laundry, washed and folded, homeschool afternoons at the kitchen table, a quick clean with a wet rag and the vacuum, and cups of coffee on the cozy couch.

Have a lovely weekend, my friends. Any plans? We are spending it at the beach for a few days of relaxation and family fun. See you back here Monday!

Billie Jo

Tilapia Florentine recipe

 

A January Day

Good Morning ~

Good Afternoon ~

Good Evening ~

And Good Night!

There's no way I'd rather spend my days.

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

Good morning! How was your weekend? It is funny. After so many festive Christmas and New Year weekends, having one without major commitments was strange. No complaints from me, though! Saturday was quiet, with afternoon mass and a trip to my friend Heather's house for dinner. We got takeout from a local restaurant, ate, and visited with her and her husband in her cozy home. I highly recommend doing that as opposed to going out to dinner this time of year. Fewer people = fewer germs. Plus, what's not to love about eating in cozy clothes?!!? 

Sunday, I woke with a purpose. At my age, I have to do things like cleaning and organizing when I feel like it instead of scheduling a time for them. This is a big change from my ambitious thirtysomething self, who cleaned her entire home every Friday, whether it needed it or not! Anyway, after my coffee yesterday, I brought in the tubs for the Christmas decorations that have been happily resting on my dining room table since last week and packed them up until next year. Then I looked around and decided the post-Christmas dust would not magically disappear, so I filled the sink with my favorite, Murphy Oil Soap, which always reminds me of my mom and my childhood home. I wiped, tidied, vacuumed, and organized until I finally collapsed on the couch. After only a couple hours! LOL! I miss Christmas but am enjoying January's clean, sparse feeling. 

And because I strive for transparency here and for sharing real life, I offer the following photos as proof that my house is only sometimes clean and tidy. Warning: If gross, dusty things bother you, please scroll quickly past!

Yikes! So there you are! The excitement that is me cleaning my house. Today is recovery day! Schooling with Flynn and some afternoon coffee on the couch. Dinner is an easy favorite, requested by Steve: Stuffed Bell Peppers with mashed potatoes. Have a great day, whatever you have planned. Thank you for visiting! Oh, and I don't think you will be surprised to see this...

I just couldn't do it! I like the light and cozy too much!

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

 

Good Monday morning, my friends! And welcome to a brand new year! I hope your Christmas and New Year celebrations were cozy, happy, and healthy. As we head into a brand new year, fresh and open to all possibilities, many people make New Year's Resolutions. I have made such resolutions in the past years; in other years, I have not. This year, I am resolving NOT to resolve. 

I resolve to not set unrealistic expectations for myself.

I resolve to not compare myself of today with me of the past.

I resolve to not forget that caring for myself is neither selfish nor lazy.

I hope you find peace, happiness, health, and contentment in this new year, my friends. And cozy. Always cozy. Have a lovely day. Thank you for visiting!

Billie Jo

Merry And Blessed Christmas! And Stay Warm!

Hello, my friends! Here we are! All our planning, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, and baking come to fruition this weekend. Sit back, relax and enjoy, knowing you have created magical memories for your loved ones. Whatever your plans, I wish you the peace and comfort that only Christmas brings. Stay safe and warm, and cozy. And remember to take a moment to listen for that magical sound of sleigh bells on Christmas Eve. 

Merry and Blessed Christmas, my friends!

See you next week!

Billie Jo

 

Random Thoughts For A Friday

Good Friday morning, my friends! Sometimes when I sit down to type out a post, I have a specific thought or idea to share. Other times, today, for example, I have several random thoughts swirling in my mind. So, here goes in no particular order, of course.

~

Time passes so quickly. Literally, I look out at the lake today, and I see it as it is. But in my mind, I feel like I was out there swimming, boating, and spraying sunscreen everywhere. I will never understand how time seems to speed up as we age. It hurts my brain to even try.

~

My calendar is filling up for the rest of November and December. I am trying not to get anxious about the days I am committed to being somewhere, even somewhere I want to be! I will take one day at a time and focus on being present wherever I am.

~

Ornament Day was a success! All the kids could come, and afterward, they came back here for a taco dinner and some family fun. As I get older, I am learning to accept help when I need it, and I am so thankful I have children who always offer to do just that. Peyton made the taco meat, Kyrstin chopped all the vegetables, Nicolas and Rhett got my Christmas tree down from storage and set it up, Madison fluffed all the branches, Christopher helped Steve install batteries in all the smoke detectors, and Flynn played with all the pups. 

~

This year is the first since 1997 I am not sending Christmas cards. I have sent photos or photo cards of our family every year since Madison turned one! This year, I am choosing to simplify and send just a few handwritten cards to people who may need extra joy this season. 

~

Well, that's it for today! I am off to get some cereal with blueberries and raspberries. I got the best raspberries at the store this week! What a treat. Thanks for visiting, my friends. Have a cozy weekend!

Oh! One more thing. I am wondering about two special blogger friends who have not posted in a while. If you know anything about Lorraine from Mamas Mercantile or Linda from Ramblings of a Retired Lady, could you please drop me a line? I have been thinking about both of them, as they are very good blogger friends.

Thank you!

Billie Jo

Fish Fry Friday...Again

Friday again! This week brought a beautiful springlike day followed by a surprise snowfall that covered us with white, heavy snow. The next day, it disappeared as quickly as it arrived when the warm air returned, and once again, we felt as if spring had arrived. Time to pack up the boots and mop the floor, right? Well, not so fast. The little guy down below is not finished yet! We are forecast to see a significant snow event here in Pennsylvania this weekend, and honestly, I am ok with it. It is March, after all. If I can squeeze one more cozy as can be ~ sit by the fire and read ~ no place to go weekend, I am all in. 

Tonight, before it begins, we plan to travel the short distance to our parish for the best fish fry ever! Then it will be home for fresh jammies and a cozy throw blanket. I have some peppers in the fridge, so I had Steve take some ground beef from the freezer, and I plan to make some stuffed peppers either Saturday or Sunday. We will watch mass and maybe do some sledding, but that is about it, my friends. 

Do you know who this little guy is?

He has been a favorite since my childhood, and as I said, he will be busy this weekend! I will reveal his name at the end of this post!

I hope your weekend is happy, healthy, and safe. Thanks for visiting, and I will join in prayer for the courageous people of Ukraine. 

Billie Jo

P.S. That is Snip The Snowflake Maker from Jack Frost, a beloved television show from my childhood!

 

Sledding And Pizza Burgers

Good Friday morning! I hope this day finds you safe and sound, especially if you are dealing with the winter storm. Snow is one thing; ice is another. This past week some of us bundled up and went sledding! (Noticeably absent from any photos would be me. I was home watching Match Game '78 and heating up chicken tenders for dinner!) Steve is and always has been the "Outdoor Activities" parent. Thank Heavens. He, Madison, Nicolas, Rhett, Kyrstin, and Flynn had a blast sledding down the huge hill in our neighborhood. Again, I am so thankful my older children love spending time doing family things. It is especially nice for Flynn, and I do not take these moments for granted.

Steve cooks on Sundays, and this past week he made one of his mother's recipes. Mum was a great cook. These are her famous Pizza Burgers, and Steve replicated them perfectly. When I took my first bite, I literally felt I was back in Steve's house when we were dating, having dinner at his house, with Mum making these with a side salad and some cut-up cantaloupe. 

If you want an easy, delicious meal, just brown some ground beef and drain. Add some spaghetti sauce. Mum used Ragu. Always. We had another brand, but it works. Let that simmer while you toast some English muffins. Then, assemble. On each English muffin, place a slice of Velvetta cheese. This is imperative! It must be Velvetta. Then spoon some of the meat mixture on top. Add some shredded Mozzarella cheese, and bake until hot and melty. 

Leaving you this wintry Friday with a picture of Mocha, all snuggled up on my lap for the ride to the beach. Some of us made the six-hour journey to spend a few days at the ocean. It is rainy and cold, but being here is relaxing enough for me. We will swim indoors, eat good takeout food, watch movies, and play some cards. Steve loves the beach. He always has. He works unbelievably hard at a job he loves. His mind is always going. Here, for some reason or another, he can relax. That is why after years and years of renting, we finally decided to purchase our own condo. Now, we can come and go without any planning or worrying. My children also love it here. We hope that they will one day bring their own families here, and Steve and I will sit in our beach chairs, watching the waves as we grow old together.

Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are, my friends.

Thanks for visiting!

I am always glad you do.

Billie Jo

 

Winter For A Bit Longer

 

Good morning! This is what greeted me when I opened my eyes this morning. And although it is quite cold outside, I am enjoying these winter days here on the lake. When we are out on the boat on warm summer evenings, surrounded by green trees and blue skies, I can hardly imagine the cold, ice-covered lake surrounded by bare trees that I see today. And today, as I look outside at the people huddled around a small circle ice fishing, I can hardly imagine the lake in summer, waves rolling as boats and jetskis fly by.

I suppose that is how life is. And it is why I am learning to completely live in the moment, not thinking of what was or what will be. Whatever that is, it is. And what is now is now. Learning that any worry or anxiety I have simply has no bearing on the past or the future is a challenge for me. But I am working on it. A work in progress, so they say!

We did celebrate Chinese New Year last night. We had take out with Chinese music in the background. I had grand plans of making an entire Chinese meal, complete with a special cake for dessert. Obviously, that did not happen, partly because my local store does not carry a Chinese 5 Spice blend for the cake. Nevertheless, we had a lovely dinner together. And no cleanup, so there's that!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends.

I will be around to visit!

Billie Jo

New Year~ New TV Shows!

 

I am all about the holidays, as you know. October, November, and December are my favorite months of the year, full of special days and holidays. I am always sad when New Year's Day ends, as I know we have to wait another year for it all to begin again. One thing that makes me feel better is the fresh new start to a brand new year and knowing that we are settling in for a few months of calm and cozy. 

January means the start of some of our favorite television shows too. Here are a few I am looking forward to watching as I am snuggled on the couch.

The Bachelor

January 3, 2022

Is this a ridiculous premise for a television show? Yep. Would I want my daughter to go on television to find a husband in a man who is also dating thirty other women? Nope. Do I enjoy watching it every single season, knowing it is more likely scripted entertainment? You bet.

Ozark

January 21, 2022

This is a great show, mainly because I am a huge Jason Bateman fan. At first, I wasn't sure about it, but I got sucked in very quickly. The first three seasons are out on Netflix, and the new and final season starts in a few weeks. Cannot wait.

Servant

January 21, 2022

This one is a bit strange. I got hooked when I was down with the stomach flu, binged the first season, and waited for the second. It is creepy, but I cannot figure it out, and I am excited to see where it goes. Servant is on Apple TV.

The Amazing Race

January 5, 2022

Finally! After a long wait, this favorite is back. I am sure there may be some adjustments because of Covid, but I am excited to see Phil at each and every stop. By the way, this is the only one of the shows I listed that is family-friendly. 

How about you? What are you watching? I'd love to hear!

Happy Wednesday!

Billie Jo

Birthdays, Snowflakes, and Puppies

Twelve years. We are all so thankful God blessed us with this beautiful, easygoing, creative, music-loving soul. Flynn Grace, you are loved.

And then this. Twenty-five! Our firstborn is twenty-five. A lovely, confident, hardworking, selfless, Taylor Swift loving, fashion icon young lady and loving wife. Madison Marie, we love you!

What else have we been up to? We watched some snow fall.  We took some naps. We thought about decorating. We even pulled the tubs down off the shelves. And then we snuggled by the fire some more. How about you, my friends? How is December treating you so far?

Enjoy. And this year, keep it simple.

Billie Jo