June 24, 2022

Friday Favorites


Harry's latest in my Jeep. On repeat...



Homemade waffles with local berries and powdered sugar...



Skies like this on the way home...





After watching a fun movie that played in our local theatre, which went all out...


And a candle I can burn during summer that smells more cozy and less flowery.

Weekend plans include everyone here for dinner tonight. Yay! Mass on Saturday. Possibly watching online. And a lazy Sunday before a busy week. I hope you have a great weekend, my friends. Stay cool and cozy!

Billie Jo



 

June 22, 2022

Random Thoughts On A Wednesday In Summer

 



Hello, my friends. Won't you join me for coffee on the front porch in the morning and dinner on the deck during the evenings? As you know, autumn is my happy place, but as I get older, I am also learning to appreciate the beauty of summer. My summers are probably different than many, and I let that bother me for many years. I don't enjoy the heat and the sun. I don't go to the pool in the afternoon or go out on the boat in the middle of the day. Summer for my family and me takes place in the morning and evening.

When the kids were little, summer mornings were spent outside, playing with balls and bubbles, riding bikes, jumping in a blue plastic pool, and eating breakfast on a dusty picnic table. Evenings meant dinner on the screened-in porch with Daddy, bike rides, basketball, walks down the road, and drippy ice cream on colored cones. The time in between was cozy. We played inside while the world went on outside around us. The hot sun was hidden behind blinds as we gathered on the couch to watch movies and tv shows together. 

I used to care when people asked me why we never went to the pool in the afternoon. It bothered me when they asked what we did all day and why we never had suntans. It doesn't anymore. I am so happy that we did summer the way we wanted to. The memories we made and the fun we had together on those hot summer days are some of the best. So...if you need to hear it today...You do You. And don't give a darn what other people think. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

June 20, 2022

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

 Good Monday morning! Welcome to the last full week of June! Can you believe it? Time waits for no one, right? This is beautifully illustrated below with this photo Madison sent me on Friday afternoon. She took Flynn to the hairdresser, coffee shop, and Father's Day shopping. Wasn't it just yesterday that Madison was twelve, and she and her friends planned a surprise baby shower for me right before Flynn was born? Look at these two now. They also visited with my mom and stopped to get her a favorite chocolate milkshake!



Doesn't she look great?! Little visits bring such joy. To all of us! Sunday, we celebrated Steve on Father's Day! He requested burgers on the grill, so while he did cook, the kids all helped with everything else. Dinner was delicious! Burgers, fresh veggies, and potato salad. There were gifts, games, and fresh strawberry pie, made by Madison. So good!




Today is cooler here in Pennsylvania, so I am putting some chicken breast in the crockpot for a much-requested meal of Chicken and Waffles. Today I have laundry and some vacuuming to do, and I am also planning on starting to look through Flynn's books for the upcoming school year, something I actually get excited about! I hope you have a lovely Monday in your part of the world. What is for dinner at your house tonight?


 ( This poor little thing was thinking the tiki torch was a tree. I think I know how he feels sometimes! )

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo


June 17, 2022

Weekly Wrap Up And Father's Day!

Well, summer arrived in all her glory this week. Man, it was hot! You know how much I love the sun and heat, right?? Evenings are my time these days, and we made the most of Wednesday evening this week with dinner on the lake and some swimming!






It was a beautiful evening with my people. In case you were wondering where the missing two are...



They are hiking out west and visiting beautiful places like the Grand Canyon, Sequoia National Park, and the Channel Islands. They are having a wonderful time, and I am so happy for them both. But I miss them too!

This Sunday is Father's Day. And it has me thinking about my dear Dad, whom I miss every day. 


Here he is with me, his fourth little bundle of pink!


He ended up with five! Can you guess which one is me?
Happy Heavenly Father's Day, Dad.

And  Happy Father's Day to this guy, the most amazing father I know! Sunday is his day, and he wants to cook on the grill! Madison is making strawberry pie, and I suspect there will be a few gifts too! 


Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!
Stay cool!!!

Billie Jo



June 15, 2022

Wednesday Wisdom


Not that I have many, but it sounded good! When I was a young mother with four precious little ones at home, the days were filled with things to do, meals to make, games to play, shows to watch, and laundry to fold. I loved every minute, from breakfasts on the porch to afternoon movies, ice cream cones after dinner, and baths before bed. With three of my children grown and my baby almost thirteen, my days are far less busy and much quieter. If I am not mindful, I could start to feel sorry for myself and wonder what in the world I should do with my time!

Thankfully, Flynn enjoys spending time with her mom, and we have fun binge-watching shows, listening to music, and swimming in the lake. However, I still have a great deal of free time, so I am learning to embrace it rather than fear it. I find it helpful to get up and get ready for the day, even if the day holds no concrete plans. Another thing I do every morning is make my bed. Something about smoothing the sheets and fluffing the pillows makes me feel as if I accomplished a major task! I also remind myself that it is perfectly ok to take time for myself, whether that means spending time reading or napping in the afternoon. 

I try to plan and prepare healthy and delicious meals for my little family, even if they are not as elaborate or consistent as they once were. Last night I threw some leftover grilled chicken breast into some Barilla pasta sauce and steamed some store-bought green beans. Sometimes Steve or Rhett brings dinner home. And that is ok too. Our lives are full of seasons, I suppose. No sense hanging onto one when the time comes to move to another. Every season has beauty, right? Like the buds in the spring, the green in the summer, the glorious colors of the fall, and the barren beauty of winter, peace, and joy can be found in every season. The key is adapting, embracing, and being grateful for each one.



Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends!
Thanks for visiting.

Billie Jo



June 13, 2022

Monday Morning Coffee Talk


Good Monday morning! Welcome to summer! When I came down this morning and opened the door, I was met with that indescribable feeling of a perfect summer day. This week we will see summer temperatures arrive in our part of the world. Those sunny, sweltering days always bring memories of summers past, when central air conditioning was not yet a thing, and afternoons were spent behind my mom's heavy curtains to keep out the sun. Big box fans were set on the ground, and the lights were turned off. After dinner was outside time, playing kickball with our neighbor Ronnie or cutting through the jaggerbushes to the 3rd Street playground. Summers have changed, but the feeling of summer stays the same.




Not too much on the calendar for today. I will fill in my planner for the week, throw in some laundry, ice my hand, write out some cards and bills, call my mom, and make a few phone calls. Dinner is some chicken on the grill with some yet-to-be-determined sides. Any ideas? Have a wonderful day, my friends. Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo



June 10, 2022

It's He** To Get Old And Other Stuff

 
"Billie, It's hell to get old!" My Dad used to say that all the time. And my young, naive self would smile and laugh. I can relate now, Dad. I get you. Yesterday morning, I walked outside with my Mocha, like I do every single morning, and somehow ended up on the ground by the front door. I am fine. Nothing is broken. Just sore and bruised and determined to be more mindful of my movements. And of the fact that I am fifty-two years old. Any plans I had of cleaning and organizing this weekend are temporarily on hold. Oh, who am I kidding! I had no plans!



In less "self-pity" news, the pups got washed and groomed and fresh for summer! We have a wonderful woman that brings her van right to your house. She comes to the door, takes your scruffy dog, and returns with a fresh-smelling, cute-as-can-be pup in a short amount of time. 


Easy summer meal Number One: Chicken and Pasta Alfredo with fresh green beans. Steve did some chicken breast on the grill Sunday, so I had him do extra for easy weeknight meals. I boiled some whole-grain penne - trust me, you won't even notice the difference - heated some of the cooked chicken breasts with some alfredo sauce -  sometimes I make my own, this time I used a jar - and combined it all with some freshly shredded parmesan cheese. Steve added some avocado oil and garlic powder to the cooked beans, and we were all set! Easy and delicious!

Well, that is all for today, my friends. I hope you have a wonderful summer weekend! Whether swimming, boating, hiking, gardening, or grilling, enjoy! I will be thinking of you!


Happy Weekend!

Billie Jo








June 8, 2022

Things Aren't Always What They Seem

 


Just a little reminder that things on the internet can be deceiving. For example, let's say I share a photo of my kitchen sink with you. I can choose how much and what angle I want to share with you, right? Looks pretty good. But let's look a bit closer, or maybe from a different angle.


There we are! What the remainder of my kitchen sink area looks like this Wednesday morning! I usually don't like to go to bed with dishes in the sink, but life happens, right?! I suppose the thing to remember is that what we see isn't always all there is. So no use comparing, lamenting, or worrying. Just enjoy.


Nothing behind the scenes here. Just the beauty of nature on a summer morning.

Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo