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Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

GOOD MORNING I hope you have all had a GREAT week.

MONDAY~THURSDAY We’re entering the last couple weeks before school starts back up. I’ve been hiring my friend’s teenage son to help get a few projects done around the house before he goes back to school and help him earn a few bucks too!! He helped last week one day with a HUGE project. There were also a few medical appointments as well as the standard shopping and every day chores.

FRIDAY~SUNDAY The Blackberry Festival was in full swing! Friday I made the Blackberry jam for the BRISKUITS we made for the early morning breakfast we’ve been doing the past few years at the Offyce. Dan made the briscuit this year and Diana the biscuits. Saturday morning dawned with a line of people for breakfast and it was a GOOD day. Our word of mouth is getting better EVERY year.

After breakfast we went to the festival which was bigger than it had been prior to COVID, so it’s great to see it recovering well. Lots and lots of classic cars, vendors galore and Food trucks lined up around the corner of the park. Saturday night was the BIG street cruise. There was also a chili cook off, BMX race for kids, Blackberry dessert contest, dog pie eating contest, mud races, mud volleyball, community groups and even a dog pie eating contest.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We survived the excessive heat and red flag warnings a couple weeks ago and then last week was almost perfect. This week is going to be an almost carbon copy of last week in the low to mid 80’s with lows in the 50’s with cool ocean breezes. Now, I REALLY think the DOG DAYS of SUMMER are truly over.

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, TRAVEL,  APPOINTMENTS, MENUS & DVR/TV

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Yesterday I got caught up with the laundry.  GROCERIES & ERRANDS I did a menu and grocery list for the week that I’ll get picked up today after the eye doctor. There’s a different appointment Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so I’ll work the errands into each day. One of my besties and I are trying to take either Friday or Saturday as a “play day” for shopping and lunch. CELEBRATIONS Hubby and I are celebrating a BIG anniversary tomorrow. WOW 25 years already. He always says we’re not perfect, no one is, BUT we are perfect for each other! And he is so right! Tomorrow will be 9,132 days of wedded bliss (MOSTLY) 🙂 10,143 days  PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m looking into maybe trying a new hobby, KINUSAIGA, Japanese fabric art piecing or “silk picture” making that began in the 80’s as a way to use old kimonos.  THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY folded laundry… empty laundry baskets… organized drawers… organized closets… clean windows… empty dishwasher…

READING TIME

I’m halfway through book #4 EVERYTHING WE FOUND by Kerry Lonsdale.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	8/17 MONDAY	8/18 TUESDAY	8/19 WEDNESDAY	8/20 THURSDAY	8/21 FRIDAY	8/22 SATURDAY	8/23 SUNDAY
DINNER	TRIVIA NIGHT CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	TRUE KITCHEN out for OUR ANNIVERSARY	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	STREET CORN CHICKEN RICE BOWLS with CUCUMBER SALAD	4 CHEESE BAKED GNOCCHI & ROASTED GREEN BEANS	PARMESAN CHICKEN, AU GRATIN POTATOES & HONEY THYME ROASTED CARROTS	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT			BLUEBERRY PUFF PASTRY

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I LOVE the old cars and creative vendors.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

Fall is right around the corner! And I LOVE these ideas. Ironically I usually do MOST of them too!

• DECORATE with natural elements ~ straw, pumpkins, apples, gords, buckets, etc…
• SIMMER pot with apples, cinnamon and other favorite spices as well as burning CANDLES…
• SEASONAL WARM DRINKS ~ YES PLEASE!!!! hot toddies, hot apple cider, hot chocolate…
• COZY OUTDOOR SPACE ~ blankets and pillows on the porch with one of the seasonal warm drinks 🙂
• GRATITUDE JOURNAL ~ fall always seems like the time to begin a new one, but I try to keep one year round…
• PICNICS up at the lake or BONFIRES at a friends house…
• NEW SEASONAL RECIPES ~ I never met a recipe I didn’t want to try once (USUALLY) 🙂
• HOST A SOUP & BREAD NIGHT ~ I’ll have to try this one!! And ironically I had already decided to try a new craft before I read this and COZY BOOKS are a must year round.

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• FISH TACO BOWLS
• COOKIE MONSTER COOKIES
• PEACH GLAZED BBQ CHICKEN
• BEAN SALAD with SMOKY SUN-DRIED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• CHICKEN FAJITA COBB SALAD
• CRUNCHY PEANUT CHICKEN SALAD
• OLD SOUTH SODA SAUCE PORK LOIN
• CHOCOLATE ROOT BEER CAKE with CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER GANACHE