Summer Days

 Hello! Good Friday morning! Today dawned cloudy and cooler, not unlike most days here in Pennsylvania so far this summer. Flynn took these photos early one morning this week, beautifully showing a typical June morning in our little part of the world.

The weather so far has been more springlike, without the rain. We need rain here, and although each day brings the forecast of showers, we typically see a few sprinkles here and there. Our morning swims in the lake will wait, so until then, we are making due.

This week we celebrated a couple birthdays with some special people. My super sweet friend Heather had a birthday, and we met for dinner. We, of course, managed to wear matching tops and sweaters. Like from the exact place matching. Loft, if you were wondering!

And finally, we celebrated one of Peyton's friends from childhood, Grimace! Did you know McDonald's is celebrating his birthday??? Peyton has always loved Grimace, so we were happy to have lunch and try his birthday shake. Well, they did! Reports are it is delicious. Like a vanilla and strawberry mix?

Before I go, I want to answer a few questions from my last post about my cozy kitchen. 

~ I used the vegetables to make an easy pan of seasoned vegetables to go with dinner last night. I chopped up a white potato, a sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, a pepper, an onion, zucchini, and carrots and drizzled them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash. Then I baked them for about an hour at 375 degrees. The one thing I have learned is to cut the vegetables roughly the same size so they cook evenly.

~The electric kettle is a favorite! Peyton had one and told me how much she loved it. Now we have one and love it too! It heats the water up so quickly. We use it every single day.

~The mat in front of the sink is a cushioned mat that doesn't slip. It also keeps my feet from getting sore. I am trying to remember where I found it, but I am sure Walmart would have something similar.

Well, that is about all, my friends. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your people. Tonight we plan on visiting my mother with one of her favorites, a strawberry milkshake. Sunday, we celebrate Steve and remember our amazing dads on Father's Day. And in between? Well, I will give you a couple hints...

Yep! We are heading to Pittsburgh to see Taylor Swift! Last November, Madison, Nicolas, and I spent an entire morning maneuvering the Ticketmaster website and were able to get tickets! Madison has been a faithful fan since the very beginning. She has been talking about this tour since before it was even announced. I am so excited for her and am looking forward to a fun evening! I will report back here on Monday.

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend, my friends.

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

( Era Tour Photos from Google. )

Looking Around My Kitchen On A Rainy Morning

Good morning, my friends! It is a rainy Wednesday morning here in Pennsylvania, and I just finished loading the dishwasher and making my coffee. I took a few quick pictures of the state of my kitchen this random June morning to share with you today.

 

A cake stand with crumbs from a delicious loaf of pumpkin bread...

This cushiony mat that keeps my feet from hurting...

The griddle that I keep forgetting to put away but we use every day anyway...

The folded dishtowel by the sink stained with strawberry juice...

My current read that I brought down this morning...

The electric teakettle I cannot live without...

And fresh vegetables waiting to be seasoned and baked.

Kitchens are the heart of a home, don't you think?

Have a cozy afternoon!

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

I Want To Remember ~ A Sunday In June Edition

Good Monday morning! I hope you had a lovely weekend in your part of the world. Our weekend was filled to the brim with family and fun. I wanted to post a few photos of our Sunday so that when I look back, I will remember the stories behind them. Steve and I started the day on the deck while I had my coffee. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, not too sunny. We had the cutest visitor join us, and Steve was able to snap a few pictures...

 

So precious. So new. But don't worry. Momma wasn't far away!

We had some fresh strawberries and blueberries to use up, so I made some waffles for breakfast. I want to remember how Rhett texted me from upstairs to ask if there were waffles, perhaps because I may or may not have strategically placed the waffle iron directly under his bedroom. 

Later in the afternoon, all the kids came over for boating and dinner. It was fairly impromptu, very casual, and one of the best nights ever! I want to remember going out on the lake and Peyton and Flynn tubing together. I want to remember looking at them and thinking about Peyton pushing a tiny Flynn on the swing set and how quickly the years flew by. 

I want to remember being in that boat, watching the kids help and encourage each other. Kyrstin helping organize the lifevests, Rhett and Christopher spotting and helping from the back, Peyton smiling and laughing, Steve driving the boat, and being so happy that his family was having fun. I want to remember Christopher explaining to Flynn how to use the kneeboard and everyone else encouraging her to try. And then, when she got it on the first try, everyone being so excited for her! I want to remember Nicolas and Madison back at the house, unloading the grocery delivery I forgot all about and getting everything ready for dinner while we were out.

I want to remember how all the kids take such care of making sure I get out of the boat and back onto the dock, mainly because I forget I am not sixteen years old anymore, and jumping off the side isn't the best idea anymore! I want to remember all the kids helping with dinner, Madison having everything ready when we arrived, Kyrstin helping Steve with the burgers, Rhett making last minute kool-aid, Peyton bringing cupcakes and chocolate-covered strawberries, and everyone else getting plates ready to eat. I want to remember that I stopped for a moment and looked around that bustling kitchen filled with my family, feeling so very thankful. And then eating the most fantastic dinner of hamburgers, french fries, watermelon, and Madison's tomato and cucumber salad. 

Not my plate, but Christopher's looked so good I had to take a picture of it. Finally, I want to remember sitting around after dinner, watching home videos of our life some fifteen years ago, when our family was smaller, and our kids were younger, and thinking that as wonderful as that time was, this time, this moment is just as wonderful, if not more because we have added new people to our family. And they have made it that much better. 

I want to remember always that each and every chapter in our lives is the best one at that moment in time. And that it is ok to turn the page and start the next one.

Have a wonderfully cozy Monday, my friends.

Rainy here today.

Inside and happy we will be.

Billie Jo

Some Joys Of June

 

Hello! Happy Friday, my friends! This is the face of a girl who just completed Seventh Grade! We had a successful, fun, and productive year. Eighth Grade next?!?! In addition to the end of our homeschool year, a few other things signal the beginning of summer. 

First, local strawberries. My family waits all year for these few weeks when we can eat all things strawberry! 

And then there are the precious little fawns that arrive and follow their mommies around, learning the ropes. As nice as this photo appears, the reality is that here in Pennsylvania, we have had some very poor air quality from the wildfires in Canada. Wednesday was the worst, although not nearly as bad as some places. We stayed inside and kept busy, finishing school and making a few of our favorite meals.

Wednesday night, we had shrimp tacos. They are delicious and relatively easy...if you are lucky like me and have a sous chef named Madison doing all the chopping and arranging! I may have shared this recipe before, but if not, I will link it HERE.

Last night was cooler, so I tried a new recipe for Baked Chicken Parmigiana. It was amazing! If you want to try it, I will link it HERE.

I finished this book and give it a very positive review! It is very well-written and thoroughly researched. I appreciated the author writing an informative book that is not merely a compilation of tabloid gossip. This book isn't a Beach Read but a deeper look into the relationship between the Duke and Duchess and other royal family members. I recommend it, but Mocha found it a bit tiring. 

Have a nice weekend, my friends. 

Thanks for stopping in!

Billie Jo

Wednesday Vibes

Have a cozy, creepy Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo

And for the record, I love them both.

But The Munsters will always be my favorite!

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

Good morning, my friends! How was your weekend? Here in Pennsylvania, it was gloriously summerlike and perfect for our plans, which included our final May birthday celebration! Peyton turned twenty-three on May 31, so we celebrated with her Saturday evening. Everyone was able to be here, and we all had a wonderful time. There was tubing on the lake, hot dogs on the grill, a fire with S'mores and mountain pies, presents, and an ice cream birthday cake she didn't have to make herself!

My Posey.

( Her full name is Peyton Rose. )

She shares joy and happiness every single day.

And, man, can she bake!

And with her awesome husband, Christopher. Who appears to have a halo?!

 

And my husband, who most certainly should have one! He is and has always been the doer of all fun things when it comes to our family. He is the boat driver, roller coaster rider, swim teacher, main concertgoer, drivers ed teacher, and all-around fun guy. He allows me to do what I do best, step back and arrange, organize, and prepare. I could be and still am the stroller pusher, backpack holder, party organizer, and sunscreen sprayer. I am behind the scenes. Exactly where I love to be. Together, we are a pretty good team!

To illustrate my point, allow me to share some photos of what I did while they were all out on the boat. First, I got dinner ready. Which consisted of opening two bags of chips, setting out paper plates, and organizing condiments. So, there's that! 

Then, I sat outside with the pups, drank some iced coffee, read a good book, and snapped phone pictures of all the fun. When they were finished, the guys covered the boat, Nicolas cooked the hot dogs, and the girls helped me prepare everything else. Grown children are the best.

Finally, in other news you don't really need to know; I am trying to be more consistent in my healthy eating choices. I am wavering between a solid weight loss program like Weight Watchers, which worked for me before, and just watching myself, cooking, and eating healthier while drinking more water. I am still up in the air about it!

Remember the saga of the spatula? Well, I finally purchased one, and our lives are better for it! Next up were our drinking glasses. We have had the same drinking glasses forever!!! ( This is where Steve always tells everyone it is because I made a SLIGHT error when ordering them and may have selected twelve dozen instead of twelve, but who's counting?? ) They are like those Pizza Hut cups...the plastic with a weird design? Well, we used them for years! Anyway, I finally decided we needed new glasses. And after careful consideration, I decided on these ones from Amazon. They are basic. And pretty. And plastic. I cannot do glass glasses for every day. I know they are better. I just have a thing about broken glass and shards of it, and I just can't. It's a thing.

Well, that is all for today. I hope you have a wonderful Monday, my friends. Stay cool and cozy, and remember to throw some sunscreen on. Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo

The First Friday In June

Good morning! Happy Friday, Happy June, and Happy Summer! May is always a busy month here with birthdays, holidays, year-end school activities, and outside prep for summer. It passes in a blur, and suddenly, things slow down a bit, and we realize...It's June!!!! Time for coffee on the porch, less structured schedules, abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, early afternoon swimming in the lake, and after-dinner rides with drippy ice cream cones.

As I typed those things we look forward to each summer, I realized every single one is also a happy memory from my childhood. I remember my parents enjoying their morning coffee on our screened-in side porch, long summer days with Bob Barker and The Price Is Right and kickball in the yard after dinner, fresh strawberries and corn on the cob, jumping off the dock into the lake, hoping for waves from passing boats, and piling into my Dad's truck with ice cream cones for a ride around town.

I love that, intentionally or not, I am sharing the happy days of my childhood with my own family and, in turn, keeping my parents and grandparents connected to us forever. So, this summer, do what makes you happy. Do the things that bring you and your family joy and peace. If slathering on sunscreen and heading to the pool or beach every day is what you love, enjoy! Heading to the ballfield after dinner to watch your kids play? Great! You may prefer to stay in during the heat of the day and watch movies and play games. You can. Without feeling guilty about it. Do you never tan and have white skin all summer? Me too! Be proud! Eat the ice cream, take the nap, and say, "No. But thank you." to any get-togethers, BBQs, and picnics you want to skip. It is your summer, my friends! Enjoy it! You are creating moments and memories. Make them yours.

(Pinterest)

You know I have to sneak this in here, right?! 

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends.

Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo