June 26, 2026

The Last Friday In June

Hello! Happy Friday. This week went by so quickly for me. Did it for you? It was Monday morning, then Wednesday, and now it is Friday again. What happened to what my momma used to call the "lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer"? Remember when summer days seemed to last forever? We got up early. Ate a Poptart while watching The Price is Right. Then we would put on our play clothes and head outside, or put on our suits and head to the pool. After a bit, we would come home, and Mom would make us lunch. My favorite? She would put some ham and Swiss cheese on two slices of Wonder Bread, wrap them in a paper towel, and microwave them just until the cheese started to melt. I can still taste those sandwiches! After lunch, we would watch some TV or play a game while my mom ironed or talked to my Grandma on the phone. At 4:35, my sisters and I would gather around the TV to watch our favorite show, The Brady Bunch. After that, we would help Mom get dinner ready. Sometimes I would make a pudding or a jello pie for dessert.

By 5:30, my dad had pulled into the driveway from work, usually in his truck, his arm resting on the rolled-down window. We would sit at our spots at the table in our yellow daffodil kitchen and talk about our day. After dinner, my sister Margie and I would clean up the kitchen and then either head outside or run through the backyard to the playground. The playground had activities from 6:00 to 8:00 every weeknight. We would play kickball or swing until we were ready to head home. Most nights, Dad would ask who wanted to go for a ride, and we'd pile into the truck to drive around our small town, and sometimes we'd stop for a hard ice cream cone. When the sun finally faded, we got cleaned up, grabbed the pajamas that we had put under our pillows that morning, and headed to bed. My two sisters and I shared a room, so sleep was secondary to games, books, giggles, and arguments. Finally, I went to sleep in my cozy spot on the bottom bunk, happy, content, tired, and blissfully unaware that those precious summer days would not last forever.  

Now, the days seem shorter, and the weeks pass more quickly, and suddenly I am the mom of grown kids. I pray I gave them the same wonderful summer days when they were young. Looking back, I remember we sure did have fun. And we still do, because there is no expiration date on having fun with the people you love, is there? 

My camera roll is filled with pictures from morning walks, and that is about all! We did get rain, so everything is green again. And the pond is filled once more.





If I am not walking, doing laundry, cooking, or homeschooling, you will find me here, on our screened-in porch, coffee in hand. 




And lastly,  a few images from Pinterest to finish off the week, just to remind anyone dealing with OCD or anxiety that you are not alone. Sometimes it can pop up out of nowhere when you are just living your life,  simply to remind you it is still there. Just acknowledge it for what it is and move on. 







One more to leave it on a lighter note:


Have a nice weekend, my friends!

BillieJo

June 24, 2026

Would Your Rather Wednesday

1.


OR



2.


OR



3. 


OR


AND 4.


OR


Asking for a friend. : )

Have a great Wednesday, my friends!
And... if you are wondering, my answers are down below.

Billie Jo


My answers:
1. Hot dog. Always.
2. Rainy and cozy. Yes, really.
3. Pie. I will always choose pie over cake. Every time.
4. Reading. I am happiest watching all the activities from a distance!

June 22, 2026

Monday Morning Coffee


Good Monday morning, my friends. I hope your weekend was all you planned and then some. We had a nice weekend at the condo, celebrating Father's Day. The kids planned a nice, relaxing day for him filled with some of his favorite things: time with his family, time by the beach, an Indy car race on TV, and some delicious food he didn't have to make. And a nice phone call with Peyton, too! 



It was a great day for a great guy. We went to evening mass, and then packed up and headed home. By eight o'clock, I was back in my spot on the couch in my cozy clothes, and Steve was out for his walk.  


This morning I went for my walk and was greeted by the beauty of the start of a brand-new day. It's funny, isn't it, how in different seasons of life, we notice things in an entirely different way. Years ago, on a random Monday morning in June, I would have looked outside to check if the weather was nice enough for the kids' swimming lessons before they woke, and I would have started breakfast before piling them into the van with towels, sunscreen, and goggles. Today, on this random Monday morning in June, I look out to check the weather to see if I can take my little Mocha on our daily walk. The kids are grown; thankfully, they all know how to swim. They no longer need me to make their breakfast before they venture out into the world. Although sometimes they humor me and let me do it, and I immediately grab the pans for French Toast or muffins! Anyway, here is a peek at our walk today.





Pretty, quiet, calm, and full of promise. Today, I am going to work on schoolwork, plan meals for the week, do some laundry, and maybe go for a swim. Since I haven't done a meal plan yet, tonight we are having a summer staple for dinner: hot dogs on the grill. I'll probably sauté some zucchini from the farmer's market and make a simple tossed salad. 

I hope you have a wonderful day, my friends. Thank you for visiting! I'll leave you with some things that made me smile. Ok. Maybe laugh out loud. Because. Monday.






Have a happy day!

Billie Jo


June 19, 2026

Friday

Good morning! I am sitting on the porch, finishing my coffee, listening to the rain, and thinking about my day. While this past week has not been technically busy, it has been filled with various people being here for one reason or another. On Monday, our awesome friend/handyman, Mike, came to install a sound bar and fix a few things. He is one of the first people we met here, and we have become friends with both him and his wife. Yesterday we had some people in to measure for some blinds we are putting on a few windows that face the afternoon sun. And also yesterday, the men came to service our air conditioner, replace the filters, and check all the things they check that are a complete mystery to me. In addition, Flynn worked two days, and so we worked on school after and are one week away from officially completing the year. Today we have no plans, no appointments. It will be an ordinary day: school, laundry, dinner. My favorite. 


My morning walks this week. Muggy. Humid and beautiful.






I fiddled with this area all week and finally think I have it where I like it. I tightened the photo display and added a few touches that can work all summer and serve as a good backdrop for autumn.  


Dinners this week have been simple, easy favorites. Monday we had hot sausage sandwiches. They were so good that apparently no one took a picture of them before eating. Which is a good thing, right? Wednesday we had a delicious chicken meal, and last night was hamburgers on the grill. I will post a recipe for the chicken down below. It was delicious. I also like to have some type of fresh fruit salad in the fridge this time of year. And a plate of muffins on the counter for a quick snack or breakfast for those heading out the door.





The pups are loving the screened-in porch.




And Christopher sent us this picture of Peyton from a fair they visited. I got her that sweater for her birthday because it combines two of her favorite things: Disney and Americana. We miss those two but are so thankful we keep in touch every single day.



Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. We are planning to spend some time at the condo and the beach this weekend, Steve's choice, to celebrate Father's Day! I hope you have a happy, cozy, fun-filled summer weekend too!

Happy Father's Day to the one I was blessed to be chosen for...
.

And to the one I was blessed to choose...









Billie Jo