Afternoon Coffee And Evening Tea

November 8, 2021

Monday Morning Coffee

Good morning, my friends. I am currently snuggled on the couch with my coffee this morning, a cozy fire in the fireplace taking the chill out of the room. I am drinking from one of my favorite Christmas mugs today. It is from Willams Sonoma, a gift I gave myself last year. It is the only Christmas around here so far, but Halloween is all tucked away, and for the time being, I am enjoying the bare, if dusty, look of our home. Christmas will be unpacked here soon, but for now, I am enjoying the anticipation and planning.

Today is quiet. Homeschool, dinner, laundry, and The Holiday Baking Championship/Steeler Game tonight. Dinner tonight is a new recipe, Crockpot Honey Garlic Ginger Chicken. I will let you know how it turns out! Have a good day, whatever you are up to. And if all the craziness and frustration in the world today start to get to you, turn the news off. Go back to a time when the world wasn't "woke." We have been watching old game shows like To Tell The Truth, What's My Line, and Match Game. They can be found on BUZZR, one of our favorite channels.

Have a great day, my friends. Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

November 5, 2021

November Days And An Easy Dinner

Usually much more muted, November is certainly showing her beauty this year. It is cold but sunny, and the leaves are hanging on quite a bit longer. This week we noticed the dark coming earlier, the evenings lasting longer. We gather together after dinner, light the fireplace, and watch tv together.

Dinners are heartier these days. This week's favorite was an easy Baked Penne. I boiled some penne, drained it, and put it in a baking dish. Then I topped the pasta with fresh mozzarella slices and our favorite pasta sauce. Finally, I shredded fresh parmesan, covered the whole pan in foil, and baked until it was all hot and bubbly. I added an easy Chopped Salad Kit and these delicious Dinner Rolls.

And finally, I leave you with this shot of our evening visitor last night. Isn't he amazing?! And not the least bit concerned with us!

Have a lovely weekend, my friends. Not too much going on around here except packing away all our deck furniture and clearing the front porch of all things fall and Halloween. How about you? Whatever you do, enjoy!

Billie Jo

November 3, 2021

Just For Fun

Billie Jo

November 1, 2021

Halloween 2021!

Happy November, my friends! Halloween 2021 is but a happy memory, and discarded costumes litter our floors. In the bright morning sunlight, the decorations that only last night seemed so spooky now look oddly out of place. Time to pack them away until next year, when we excitedly begin again. We celebrated Halloween with our 2nd Annual Halloween Party, and my kids took it up a notch this year! Their costumes were a secret until the party, so seeing what they all came up with was fun.

Madison searched forever to find the exact dress I wore when I was in high school! She came as me in 1987, when I was queen. Nicolas even shaved to recreate the 80's look! She did a fantastic job recreating the entire look. Here is the photo she used as a reference!

P.S. (She found the dress on Poshmark. In the VINTAGE section! LOL)

Peyton and Chris went entirely against type and did a fantastic job! They put 100% into their costumes and literally become them! It was so funny trying to get Peyton to not smile because she is always smiling!!!!

Rhett and Kyrstin needed no explanation!!!!! Rhett even did a spot-on commercial for his favorite KFC! And Kyrstin was the cutest chicken around!

Flynn looked perfect as a detective with her sidekick, Draper. She picked out every aspect of her costume, and we loved it! Bonus for me...all items are reusable!