Happy Homemaker Monday - July 16, 2018

Good morning, Dear Friends! Happy Monday! 💗

I pray that this post finds you and yours healthy, happy, rested, and ready to take on the challenges of the new week head-on! How was your weekend?

For the most part our weekend was good. I had to work Friday, Saturday, and half a day on Sunday, so that didn't leave much time for anything other than what had to be done here. 

Late last night our daughter-in-law messaged to say that she was taking our son to ER. He had a knot on his neck that was swollen and very painful. It turned out to be an abscess. They drained it and, if it's not better by Tuesday, he sees a surgeon. Prayers on his behalf would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I did enjoy attending Project Learning Tree on Tuesday of last week and Friday was our Explorer Day Camp 2018. This year's theme was "Who Gives A Hoot?" (all about owls, of course!). Here are a few of pics from those events...

A group of naturalists gathered to learn new program ideas
 that focus on trees and a forest habitat. It was a lot of  fun! 🌳

The Missouri Department of Conservation office at Joplin let me borrow
their owl trunk and a few mounts. The mounts made the program! 🦉

The children designed covers for the owl
folders that housed all their information. 🎨

The children dissecting owl pellets. They really enjoyed that!
(And I'm not being sarcastic. They really did!)🦉 

Whooo! Whooo! Whooo!

Enough about last week! Let's move on into this week's post, shall we? Please join me in visiting Sandra and all the other lovely ladies for Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom and
all of the wonderful ladies of Happy Homemaker Monday!

Right now I am...

Doing laundry, finishing up breakfast, and enjoying a cup of tea while working on this post and enjoying the view from my office window...

Goldfinches on Purple-headed Coneflower

Am thinking...

My mind is all over the place this morning. I am thinking about the week ahead, recent prayer requests, hurting families, and all that needs to be done on so many fronts. At the moment I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed, but it will pass. 😊

On the breakfast plate...

Chocolate chip and oat-bran muffins (my husband made them and they are delicious!!!), fresh watermelon, and Twining's Irish Breakfast Tea

The weather...

It's still hot but we did get some much needed rain yesterday. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to give us a bit of break. I took this video while I was at work yesterday afternoon. 

On my reading pile...

I finished reading The Busy Woman's Guide to Healthy Eating by Emily Barnes and Sue Gregg and am using it to perfect my menu planning. In addition to daily scripture reading, I am reading Welcome To God's Family by Kenneth E. Hagin and am still reading Discover Nature at Sundown by Elizabeth P. Lawlor.

On the menu this week...

The zucchini are coming on like gangbusters, so, they, along with other fresh-from-the-garden vegetables will be the stars of the menu this week!

Zucchini Growing In Our Garden

Monday - salmon patties, cheesy zucchini, jalapeno poppers, and fresh cucumber and tomato slices

Tuesday - turkey burgers, sweet potato fries, fresh cucumber and tomato slices
Wednesday - black bean and cheese tostadas with sauteed peppers and onions
Thursday - potluck at work (may take a vegetable tray and dip)
Friday - broiled salmon, baked potatoes with cottage cheese and chives, and sauteed zucchini
Saturday - sauteed zucchini noodles with sauce, meatballs, and homemade bread
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to do' list...

- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", laundry, mid-month budget, bank, pick and dry herbs, pick up a new stove burner
- Tuesday - Go to doctor appointment and the grocery store
- Wednesday - Library programs @ 11:15 and 3:15
- Thursday - Attend a farewell party for friends and co-workers that are returning to their native Brazil
- Friday - Work
- Saturday - Work
- Sunday - Church

In the craft basket...

Nothing at the moment.

Looking forward to this week...

Finding out my latest lab results

Something interesting I watched...

Hummingbirds at the feeder outside my office window...

Have also been watching From Lark Rise to Candleford on Amazon Prime. Absolutely love it! 💗

From the camera...

 🌻Sunflowers Growing Outside Our Backdoor 🌻
(Some of them are taller than our back porch roof!) 

Scripture passage...

Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful week ahead! And I'll see you next week! Have a Happy First Day of Summer! 💗

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

30 Days of Summer - Post #12 - Hens, Hot Weather, and a Homemade Electrolyte Recipe

30 Days of Summer - Post #11 - Summer Songs

Happy Homemaker Monday - July 9, 2018

Be sure to visit our 30 Days of Summer blog series. To find out more check out this post on Jean's site and this one on mine. Jean and I hope you'll join us in our summertime adventure! 🌞