Happy Homemaking Monday - July 23, 2018

Good morning, Sweet Friends! 

How is everyone? I pray that last week was a good one and that your week ahead is off to a great start! HAPPY MONDAY! 😊

Last week here was busy, but productive. In addition to all the have-tos (daily schedule, work, etc.) I managed to get quite a bit of produce worked up and in the freezer and several little odd-and-end jobs that have needed doing done throughout the course of the week...which, in all honesty, doesn't happen often. It feels good to have some of those little things off my plate. 😊

I'm running a bit late today, so let's get right 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...

Finishing up breakfast and enjoying my tea while working on this post. 

Am thinking...

About the terrible tragedy in Branson this week and the families involved. Nine people out of one family! That's hard to fathom!

But, you talk about a freak storm! The same storm that hit Branson hit here just a short time before and, let me tell you, it came out of no where and it hit with a vengeance! It was sunny and right at 100 degrees when we left here (we were heading out to the park to attend a farewell dinner for a friend who is leaving). Anyway...sunny and 100 degrees...and we live less than five miles from the park. As we entered the park the sun was still shining in front of us. I looked up in the rear-view mirror and there, behind me, was a WALL of dirt and debris! I shouted to my husband, "LOOK BEHIND US!" And, just as he turned to look, this wall of dirt hit my car and completely enveloped it! I had never seen anything like it! I came to a complete stop. I could see nothing but swirling dirt. I honestly thought that a tornado was upon us. My car was shaking like mad and we could see nothing. After the dust cleared a bit, I inched down the road and into the parking lot of the nature center where my husband and I sat out the storm. We didn't get any rain (maybe a few drops, but nothing to speak of), but, man! We got the wind! One of the neighboring farmers said he clocked that wind when it hit right at 68 miles per hour. It was incredible. And I know that's what it did on that water at Table Rock...came out of no where and hit with a vengeance. And, who would have thought it? I mean...here? You can always see a storm coming and there's generally plenty of time to take action. This thing was freakish! And it was wild! Again, have never in my life seen anything like it. Very, very scary! And my heart aches for all involved in that incident in Branson...the families involved, the emergency workers and clean-up crews, and, yes, even the owners of the Ride the Ducks company. That place has operated 40+ years without incident and now this. No one could have foreseen such a freakish storm. It's all just such a terrible, terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers go out to all. 😢

On the breakfast plate...

Trim Healthy Mama's Sweat Pant Oatmeal with Blueberries and Twining's Irish Breakfast Tea

The weather...

Different. The really hot temperatures that have been with us for so long seem to have backed off a bit. Forecasted highs over the next 10-days promise to be in the lower-80's up to around 90. 

We are officially experiencing "moderate to severe" drought conditions though and need rain desperately. Crop and cattle farmers are really starting to feel the effects of it. According to the Joplin Globe, the second-coldest April on record, back-to-back with the hottest May on record, made the grasses in this part of the state not be able to grow right in first place, so, now, on top of poor initial growth, the extended drought conditions keep pasture grass from regenerating, decreasing the amount of available food for livestock. 

Please pray for rain in southwest Missouri and anywhere else that they are experiencing drought.

On my reading pile...

At the moment I am in-between school books (just finished one last night, did the review and took the test, but haven't even looked to see what's next yet, so haven't started a new one). However, in addition to daily scripture reading, I am still reading Discover Nature at Sundown by Elizabeth P. Lawlor and have started a notebook to house my experiments and observations in. 

On the menu this week...

Monday - turkey meatballs and sauce over sauteed zucchini with homemade sourdough bread

Tuesday - black bean and cheese tostadas with sauteed onion and green peppers
Wednesday - feta and spinach turkey burgers and baked potatoes with cottage cheese and chives
Thursday - out of town
Friday - broiled salmon, baked potatoes with cottage cheese and chives, brussel sprouts
Saturday - homemade pizza
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to do' list...

- Monday - Plan the week ahead, do my weekly "home blessing", laundry
- Tuesday - Take a friend to doctor appointment, then shopping
- Wednesday - Make preparations to go out of town on Thursday
- Thursday - Out of town
- Friday - Out of town
- Saturday - Work
- Sunday - Church; work in the afternoon

In the craft basket...

Nothing at the moment.

Looking forward to this week...

Spending time with my friend, Dorothy.

Something interesting I watched...

Am enjoying "From Lark Rise to Candleford" on Amazon. It's all I've watched this week.

From the camera...

Just something random...a teapot that a friend in Texas sent me last year.

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 #14 - A Lazy Day At Home

30 Days of Summer - Post #13 - The Summer Bounty - Zucchini

Happy Homemaker Monday - July 16, 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! 🌞