Happy Homemaker Monday - July 30, 2018

Good morning, Dear Friends! HAPPY MONDAY! 💗

The past week has fairly flown by in a blur...as has the past month! Can you believe that this is the last Monday in July and that August is upon us already? 😲

The best part of last week was getting in a good visit with my long-time friend, Dorothy. We've been friends since we were 10 and have shared many adventures together along life's way...and the adventures continue!

Dorothy was supposed to come up for a visit the week of her birthday back in June (we live a couple of hours away from each other now), but, with her starting a new job, it didn't work out. So, since her birthday is in June and mine is in August, we decided to meet in the middle and celebrate both our birthdays in July. 

Dorothy and I at Bass Pro

Our birthday adventure started by meeting at Bass Pro in Springfield, touring it, eating lunch at Hemmingway's on the upper level, then going to Wonders of Wildlife and the National Aquarium, both of which adjoin Bass Pro and, let me tell you, it was wonderful! What an amazing place!

Big Horn Sheep @ Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, MO

It took us about four hours to go through W.O.W. and the aquarium, and while we were there we got to pet the stingrays! Unfortunately, I don't have pictures. My Ipod battery died and Dorothy videoed the whole thing, but, for some reason, it didn't come out. You can hear us, but you can't see anything. So...no pictures of one of the most amazing experiences EVER! 😞 It was a LOT of fun though! 😄

Dorothy and I @ W.O.W. and the National Aquarium in Springfield, MO

In the evening, Dorothy and I finished up our birthday bash by attending the Peter Frampton concert at the Ozark Empire Fair. That was a lot of fun, too! I saw him the first time back in the day at Summer Jam '77 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City; Dorothy had never seen him at all. One thing's for sure...we've all gotten older, but Frampton is still a master on that guitar! Dorothy and I really enjoyed it!

Peter Frampton in Concert @ Springfield, Missouri - 7/26/18

Okay...so enough about last week! On to this week's post! 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...

...working on ten things at once...I have one load of clothes in the washer, another in the dryer, I just finished this morning's dishes, am answering email AND the phone, enjoying the cool and cloudy weather, listening to the crickets chirp outside my open window, watching the goldfinches pull seed from the purple coneflower heads, and am working on this post...basically all at the same time...and it's almost lunch time! 😲

Am thinking...

..about how wonderful it was to meet my friend, Jean (the same Jean that I'm hosting the 30 Days of Summer blog series with), for the first time in person this week! On Saturday she visited the park where I work, I gave her a tour, and we had a nice visit! It was a lot of fun! 😊

Jean and I @ Prairie State Park

On the breakfast plate...

This morning I had my usual...Trim Healthy Mama's Sweat Pant Oatmeal with Blueberries and Twining's Irish Breakfast Tea

The weather...

Cool and cloudy this morning. We finally got some much-needed rain yesterday. I don't know that it was enough to do any good really, but it was nice to see. We didn't have to water the garden yesterday or today, so that's a plus! 😊

At the moment it's 69 degrees (HEAVENLY!) and the high today is only supposed to be around 80. Tomorrow is supposed to be about the same as today, but, after that, temps start inching back up into the upper 80's and into the mid-90's by next week. 

On my reading pile...

In addition to daily scripture reading, I am reading Jesus - The Open Door by Kenneth E. Hagin and Discover Nature at Sundown by Elizabeth P. Lawlor. 

On the menu this week...

Am inundated with zucchini and peppers right now (I'm not complaining...am just stating a fact), so, once again, they will be the stars of the menu this week. 😊

Zucchini By The Wheelbarrow Full

Monday - banana peppers stuffed with Italian sausage (casserole), sauteed zucchini, and homemade sourdough bread

Tuesday - stuffed green peppers, sauteed zucchini, and corn-on-the-cob
Wednesday - chicken fajitas with green peppers and onions, and black beans
Thursday - zucchini lasagna and homemade sourdough bread
Friday - broiled salmon on a bed of sauteed zucchini and baked potatoes with cottage cheese and chives
Saturday - Homemade pizza (freezer)
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to do' list...

- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", laundry, clean out the fridge, do a food inventory, put up garden produce
- Tuesday - Take a friend to pick up her new glasses, go to the store, wish granddaughter, Mercy, a happy 3rd birthday
- Wednesday - Figure August budget, work on projects around the house and, hopefully, cross a couple of items off of my Summer Bucket List
- Thursday - Work the Missouri State Park booth at the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield
- Friday - Go to the bank, pay bills, work, wish our youngest son a happy birthday, and our oldest daughter and son-in-law a happy anniversary
- Saturday - Work, wish granddaughter, Ruth, a happy 3rd birthday
- Sunday - Church, attend local National Bible Bee "Proclaim Day" celebration

In the craft basket...

Nothing at the moment.

Looking forward to this week...

Any time that I can possibly carve out to work on things at home. There's so much that needs to be done and, at the moment, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I just need to take some time to pray over everything, regroup, organize my thoughts, and plan and all will be well. 😊

Something interesting I watched...

The bison came down to the building yesterday afternoon and put on quite a show for our visitors from Sri Lanka!

From the camera...

A Butterfly on One of My Sunflowers This Week

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! 

Until Next Time...
~Rebecca

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

30 Days of Summer - Post #16 - Sunflowers

30 Days of Summer - Post # 15 - Fireflies

Happy Homemaking Monday - July 23, 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! 🌞