Monday, July 31, 2023

Monday Musings - July 31, 2023

It's Monday morning and, after bad storms last night, the internet and phone lines are down. I won't be able to post this until everything is back up and running, but, while everything is quiet, I thought I'd work on it.



How was your week and weekend? My week here fairly flew by! I didn't accomplish much on the homefront, but I did spend a lot of good quality time with family and friends, which was very enjoyable and I feel so spoiled, at times, that I could almost burst. God is so good to me and all I do is whine. I should be (and am) ashamed of myself.



I rode to and from Arkansas twice this week with Patrick and Amber and the children as they transported Audrey and Silas to and from a discipleship summit near Fayetteville. While I was there I got to get in a short visit with my friend, Roxanne, and she says that she is coming up in August to visit and see the park where I work! I am super excited and it will be fun to spend time and give her the grand tour!

Someone in our small town has started an online rock group (the kind you paint, hide, and find), so, while the older children were out of town, I got together with the younger ones and we painted and hid rocks all over town. 



While we were out, Esther found a rock that someone else had hidden!



Yesterday was Brendon's Celebration of Life. It was great getting together with the cousins and visiting with old friends that were there, as well. Everything was really nice and Bren was well-honored. Please continue to remember his family in your prayers.

Right before I left to go to the Celebration of Life I discovered that the battery in the van was dead (in that moment I was sure regretting that I had sold my car...if I hadn't sold it I would have had a back-up!), but I called a friend that was headed to the Celebration of Life, too, so she came by and gave me a ride; Patrick and Amber brought me home and gave me a jump start. I let the van run for a while, then made it to Dollar General and back without incident. I'm hoping that the van with start this morning (which...it didn't). If it does, I'm going to run up town to see if Scott (the guy at Tires and Auto) can put a new battery in (which...after another jump start, I did) and, hopefully, he's got the one I need in stock (which...he did). In fact, I'm going to take a break from this post and do that right now (which...I did...had to get a ride home, but he's working on it now...will have it done in an hour or so).



So...here I am. I just got a new tea in the mail to try...cardamom spiced...recommended by a friend. I'm also doing something I never do...making a gallon of iced tea. I'm trying to break the soda (Diet Coke, Coke Zero) cycle...at least cut down on it...I've been drinking way too much of it again lately and my body feels it.



We're still in the triple-digit temps, but, a few more days and we should be back to highs in the 90's with lows in the 60's. I am certainly looking forward to that! I'm just thankful that we finally got some rain and hope that it was enough to do some good somewhere. These drought conditions are hard on area farmers for sure.

Well, I've probably mused long enough. It will be time to pick up my van up soon, so I will close for now and post this as soon as the internet is back up and running.


Update...it's 9:30 p.m. Monday night. The new battery is installed on my van, but I am still without internet and phone service. I am using my son's internet long enough to get this post out, then I'm going to bed.


I hope your Monday is going well and that your week is off to a great start!

Until next time...
~Rebecca



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Monday, July 24, 2023

Monday Musings - July 24, 2023

It's Monday and I'm off and running into another week. I sat down yesterday to start working on my regular Monday post, but just couldn't do it. I feel like I'd just be repeating myself...saying the same old thing that I've said week after week for years...so I decided to stop. 

Wild Sunflowers

Will I make a 'master list and menu plan Monday' post next week? Who knows? But, for now...for this week...I'm not even going to attempt to make one. Instead, I'm just going to be. 

Great Blue Heron

I have so many things that I need to be working on...inside things...things that I don't understand, or know how to do or deal with, but I'm trying. I know the Lord has a plan. Learning to be patient and waiting on Him are two of the things that I am, inadvertantly, working on.

Tallgrass Prairie Sunset

It's late afternoon now. I just got home from Lamar. I met one of my daughters-in-law and my youngest granddaughter (Bethany...she'll be one in a few days) for lunch today. It was actually a belated birthday lunch for Christy that I've been trying to get to since mid-June. I needed to go to Lamar for a few things, so I called her last minute to see if she could meet me and she could. I'm thankful that we were able to get together and enjoy some mother-in-law/daughter-in-law time. It was nice.

Hoary Petunias

At Walmart they were getting ready for the upcoming tax-free weekend (August 4th through the 6th) and had all the school supplies out. I buy so few items any more (now that I'm no longer homeschooling my children) that it really wouldn't be cost effective to make another trip back to Lamar just for that, so, I picked up my few little items today. I bought Ticonderoga pencils (the black ones...they are THE best for sketching), fine-line Sharpies, yellow highlighters, and spiral-bound notebooks (the notebooks were only 35 cents each). I'm happy!

Grandgirls on Gayfeather Trail

I stayed up late last night (it was nearly 3:00 in the morning before I finally fell asleep). I felt anxious and nervous then and have felt that way intermittenly all day long today (and a little down, too). I think I just figured out why.

The girls and I happened up on this big guy at the pond
just off Gayfeather Trail. We were way too close!

Today marks the two-year anniversary of my husband's 'Celebration of Life' (I hate when that cyclic thing catches me unaware, but it always helps once I figure out what's actually going on). Plus, I learned last night (right before going to bed), that another classmate passed away. 😢

Last Night's Moon

Well, I better be going. I need to get things put away and see what else I can get done before the day is over. I hope your day is going well and that your week is off to a great start! I'll be with you again soon!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, July 17, 2023

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - July 17, 2023

It's late afternoon and I'm just now sitting down to work on today's post. It's been a busy Monday following a whirlwind week and weekend.

Gayfeather (a.k.a Blazing Star or Liatris)

Tuesday's 'Little Moss, Big Tree' program (featuring mosses of Missouri) went well. It felt good to dip my toes back in the water of library programs. I'm really thinking that I'll get back to them on a monthly basis come autumn.




I spent Wednesday cooking and preparing for Friday's all-day day camp. I made a quintuple batch of hardtack and a double batch of Civil War era gingerbread with homemade whipped cream for topping (it was a popular food at the time).

Gingerbread and Whipped Topping

When I got home from work Thursday evening Amanda and Aaron and the girls were here. They were registered for Friday's program and spent the night. 

Late Thursday evening we got word that our little cousin, Brendon, had passed away. He had been sick since birth, but, despite all odds, outlived the doctor's predictions by a long-shot. He was 26-years-old. Please remember Bren's family in your prayers. Thank you!

Friday's five-hour 'Civil War on the Border' day camp was enjoyed by all in attendance. The program was divided into three parts; my part centered around foods and medicinal plants of the Civil War.






 
 

As of 4:30 Friday evening I am past working all the extra hours and am back to my regular schedule. I am so thankful! 

Northern Bobwhite Quail

Company left Friday night and I was off Saturday. I spent the whole day cleaning, doing laundry, and bringing order out of chaos. It was wonderful!!! 

Please keep son-in-law, Aaron, in your prayers. He wasn't feeling well when they left to go home Friday evening, but, by Saturday night, he was in emergency and ended up being admitted to the hospital. Doctors still aren't sure what's wrong with him and are conducting more tests. I met Amanda in Nevada this afternoon and have brought the girls home with me. Please pray health and healing over Aaron and God's peace over all. 

Well, I need to get started here. It will be time to fix supper soon. 

Dickcissel

This week's master to-do list...

- Clean house
- Do laundry
- Go to the bank
- Go to the post office
- Fill up at the gas station
- Pick up flea and tick meds for the cats
- Watch the girls
- Be available 
- Work

Potatoes From My Five-Gallon Bucket Garden

This week's menu plan...

With everything up in the air, I'm not even going to try to figure out a meal plan this week. We'll just eat whatever...whenever.

Bison

I hope your week is off to a great start. That's all I've got for today and have a great rest of the week!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Summer Bucket List 2023

As much as I try to enjoy it, summer continues to be my least favorite of the four seasons. The current triple-digit tempertures, along with high humidy and extreme drought conditions, certainly don't help. At this point, I am very much looking forward to fall! 

BUT...despite all of that...I'm still hoping for, and looking for the best in, the summer season. In looking over my calendar, I've come up with a list of things that I'd like to do and accomplish over the course of it. In reality, I probably won't get to all of them, but having a list will certainly help me to keep my focus and encourage me to keep pressing forward even on the hottest and sweatiest of summer days. 


Ladybug on Coneflower 

  • Write my summer bucket list
  • Plan my summer menus (these will be posted weekly in my 'Master List and Menu Plan Monday' posts)
  • Celebrate summer birthdays with the grandlittles (there are a bunch of them!) 
  • Celebrate Independence Day 
  • Eat watermelon 
  • Welcome a new granddaughter into the family 
  • Observe a full moon (July 3 - Buck Moon, August 1 - Sturgeon Moon, August 30 - Blue Moon) 
  • Catch lightening bugs
  • Enjoy the Perseid meteor shower 
  • Celebrate my 62nd birthday 
  • Find a cicada shell
  • Grill burgers on the grill 
  • Enjoy fresh produce and herbs from my garden 
  • Enjoy a banana split 
  • Cut fresh flowers from the garden and make a bouquet 
  • Work on some new photography ideas 
  • Paint, hide, and find rocks with the grands 
  • Take a day trip to northwest Arkansas
  • Complete the following programs at work...
    - Wild Cats of Missouri 
    - 'Little Moss, Big Tree' Library Program 
    - Civil War on the Border Day Camp   
    - Sunflowers a la Petite Prairie 
  • Attend a family reunion
  • Enjoy a Kansas City Royals game at 'The K' (Kauffman Stadium) 
  • Attend a baby shower for my first great-grandbaby 
  • Go camping
  • Enjoy time around a fire 
  • Finish cleaning out the shed on Pedro
That's what's on my summer bucket list thus far (I may add to it as the season moves along). What's on yours?

Until next time...
~Rebecca
(#43 in today's line up on Grammy's Grid Unlimited Link Party #120 today)

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Monday, July 10, 2023

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - July 10, 2023

It's Monday and, even though I got up early, and am not on a time schedule of any kind, I feel like I'm running behind. 

This Week's Zinnia Bouquet

How are you? How was your week and weekend? Did you have a nice Independence Day?






I had a nice one here! I was invited to Patrick and Amber's for lunch, then, went with them, along with Tony and Nicole and their family, to the big shabang at Rich Hill.



Rich Hill is famous (literally) for their annual, days-long 4th of July celebration! It's always fun and their fireworks display never disappoints!



I've been to fireworks displays all over the area and none of them have ever even come close to the grandure of the display that Rich Hill puts on each year! It's amazing!

(I love small town America!!!) 💓⭐💙

Other than that, the rest of the week pretty much revolved around work. Oh! And birthdays! I have a grandson and two granddaughters that celebrated birthdays this week! 🎂

Birthday Cheesecake

Today marks the two-year anniversary of my husband's death. 

My Darling J.K.!
Eterni il giorno...yours always...forever and a day!

I'm extremely thankful for the love, marriage, family, and wonderful memories that John and I shared over the course of a lifetime...33 years of marriage and 55 years of friendship...but I have come to the realization that I can no longer remain drowning in grief and sorrow. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually...it's not good for me...and I don't believe for one moment that that's the way John, nor God Himself, would want me to live. 

From this day forward, I choose to put grief and sorrow behind me and embrace this new season of life that God has me it. It's time to move forward, live the life that He's given me to live, and enjoy each new day as it comes! Life is too precious and too short to waste! It's time to start living it again! 



It's also time to get on with this post and get it posted before the day is over! Let's get started...shall we?

This week's master to-do list...

- Clean house
- Do laundry
- Work (includes presenting a library program on Tuesday and finishing up prepararations for Friday's "Civil War on the Border" daycamp)
- Enjoy a short visit with Amanda and Aaron and the girls

This week's menu plan...

...is going to be all about using up fresh vegetables from the garden. 

First Margarita Pizza of the Year

- Turkey burger with baked sweet potato, sauteed greens, and coleslaw
- Bacon and lettuce sandwich with potato wedges and coleslaw
- Turkey burger with cheesy sauteed vegetables and corn-on-the-cob
- Homemade margarita pizza (freezer)
- Turkey Italian sausage with fried cabbage, baked potato, and corn-on-the-cob
- Fish sandwich with sauteed vegetables and potato wedges
- Leftovers

Tallgrass Prairie Under Summer Sky

Well, that's it for today! I hope that your Monday is going well and that your week is off to a great start!

Until next time...
~Rebecca
(#116 in today's line-up over at Grammy's Grid - Unlimited Link Party #119)

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