This Past Week In Pictures (6)

 What a week, y'all. Emotionally, it's been a whole mess, and there are things I guess I'm not as "over" as I thought I was. Ugh, such is life. But here are some pictures. 

Happy Homemaker Monday: August 24, 2026

 I'm late, dreadfully so. But, for an "off" Monday, nothing about today was really off. First of all, I feel a little like I've been hit by a bus (oh, the joys of being a woman, ha). Second, I'm feeling stretched really thin (par for the course during my busy season). Third, I have a lot of things thrown at me (see previous sentence). 

Anyway, if I plan to finish this post before Monday is over, here we go. 

The weather: Pretty typical of late August in the mountains. Warm, warm, warm, then a few cool days sprinkled in there for variety. I live for those cooler days. 

As I look outside my window: It's dark, y'all. But I can see the solar lights in my dahlia patch and the streetlight at the watershed across the street. 

Right now, I am: Typing up this post, and leaning my head on a Squishmallow that Goose gave me a few years back. It's become my favorite pillow. Trying to talk a friend through a breakup.

Thinking and pondering: About all of the things I have to do this week, how I'm going to squeeze in a month's of work into a week, ha. 

How I am feeling: Kind of grouchy and lousy, but also accomplished and super excited to see all the flowers in bloom. 

On the breakfast plate: Y'all will be so proud of me. I had a whole breakfast today, and I even took a picture of it. 

On the lunch plate: I had an adult lunchable, with salame, bread rounds and cheese. 

On the dinner plate: I made Hungarian Goulash with mashed potatoes. We had no leftovers. 

On the menu this week: I'm still working out the order, but Hamburger Helper, Butter Chicken, Apple-Puff Pancake are going to make appearances this week. 

What I'm wearing: Pajamas and a wrap on my toes because I have a runner's injury and literally the only thing that helps is taping two of my toes together. 

On my reading pile: I'm still in Psalms in the Bible, but I've done very little reading in the last week, and I need to get myself together. 

On my TV this week: I've made it ten minutes into the next episode of Dead or Love with Ella, but otherwise all I've seen is an episode or two of Dance Moms. Dahlia season does not lend itself to TV marathons. 

Looking around the house: It is pleasantly dark, hehehe. I've got a huge butterfly tent on my kitchen shelf where our caterpillars will live out their caterpillar lives...these guys pupate over the winter, and I've got a pupation station ready to go too. It's a lot of work raising these little guys, but we're learning all kinds of cool things. 

To-do list for the week: Clean at three different houses (and mine), keep my sanity, get some garden things in order, switch out sunflowers for mums at a client's garden, Neem oil the gardens. 

What I am creating: Lovely garden spaces. Flower arrangements for a client.

Something fun to share: 

These are the caterpillars we're keeping. They're Hickory Horned Devil caterpillars, and they will be Regal Moths when they finish their metamorphosis. 

From the camera: 

Of course it's a dahlia. It's Kelgai Ann, and it's a waterlily/peony dahlia type. My favorite flowers are peonies but their season is so short, these are the next best thing. 

Prayers, devotionals: Please continue to be in prayer for my best friend. 

The Past Week in Pictures (5)

 It's been a strange week (more on that when I gather my thoughts a little bit, and finish a draft I'll publish eventually), but between the Lindsay Clancy case, and my own weird thoughts, I'm not exactly sure how I feel. 

But here are my favorite snapshots from this week. 

Happy Homemaker Monday: August 17, 2026

 Good...afternoon. It's my "On" Monday, which means I am home between farm shifts, and tomorrow looks like a super busy day. But I've taken Wednesday completely off from everything. 

So, here we go. 

The Weather: I swear every time I open the weather app, it changes. No hurricanes for the foreseeable future, so I'm happy. But a lot of warm/cool/HOT/cool patterns. Is it any wonder the kids and I all got the cold? (We're recovered now) 

Right now, I am: Typing up this post, and texting a friend. I'm glad to be a source of comfort to friends who are going through hard times. 

Thinking and pondering: About various friends of mine going through various trials. Also, I received some really good news this morning and I'm excited about that. For about ten years, I had a nightmare neighbor (think drugs, bad people next door, a whole mess)...she's GONE! I feel like I can breathe again. 

How I am feeling: A touch overwhelmed, which is par for the course currently. It's my busy season...but at least I don't have a cold!

On the breakfast plate: I had coffee and a strawberry oatmeal bar. It's better than nothing!

On the lunch plate: Greek pasta salad. 

On the dinner plate: I typically make a spaghetti/pasta dish on Sundays, but we had leftovers from Saturday, so I didn't have to cook yesterday. I'm making said pasta tonight. 

On the menu: This week is kind of wild, but Ham and Cheddar chowder, Pizza and Sausage and Rice are on the menu, though I don't know the order of everything yet. 

What I am wearing: Farm wear for now. I'll be going from farm wear to PJ's today, then back to farm wear tomorrow. 

On my reading pile: I've read virtually nothing last week. Farm work and such. I'm still in Psalms in the Bible, which is the only book I've read consistently this week. 

On my TV this week: Dance Moms, and The Greatest Teacher. 

To do list: Make dinner, finish packing, go back to the farm.

What I am creating: Two separate garden spaces, and putting finishing touches on a school curriculum. 

From the camera: 

me and Emory Paul 

Prayers, Bible Verses, Devotionals: Please just continue to be in prayer for my best friend. 

Have a wonderful week! 

The Past Week in Pictures (4)

 I almost didn't post this week, because life has been life-ing. But I'm determined to do better in this blog space. So, here are some pictures from this past week. 

Happy Homemaker Monday: August 10, 2026

 I'm way late. It's my "off Monday" which means I'm not spending the night at the farm tonight. Of course it also meant my day was insanely busy as I had to visit client gardens, and I managed to squeeze in a coffee with a dear friend of mine.  Without further ado, here we go. 

The weather: Super warm with rain chances every day this week. Good gardening weather, provided I'm out before the sun comes out in full force. This means lots of work in the morning and the evening for me, and then house stuff in the afternoon. We're watching the Atlantic for tropical systems. I'm a little skittish when it comes to hurricanes after Helene. 

Right now, I am: Laying on my bed, typing up this post before I have to rush out to a client garden. My fall run of sunflowers is sprouting and I have to clean the bed up around them. 

Thinking and pondering: I'm so glad I'm feeling better. I'm fully recovered from that cold we all had, and just in time for super busy season. I have to see a client tomorrow and his garden is on a literal side of a mountain. I have so much to do this week, and I'm trying to equip myself physically, and mentally and emotionally for it. I'm feeling sturdy and hyping myself up.

On the breakfast plate: I had coffee and my medications. I had to rush out the door to get the gardening while the gardening was good. 

On the lunch plate: Leftover tomato basil pasta

On the dinner plate: Chicken and seasonal veggies, rice. 

On the menu: 

Monday: Chicken and seasonal veggies, rice

Tuesday: Zuppa Toscana

Wednesday: Cabbage Roll Casserole

Thursday: Angel Chicken, Egg Noodles

Friday: Broccoli Pasta, Salad

Saturday: Butter Chicken, Rice

Sunday: Bowtie Pasta, Meat Sauce

What I am wearing: Farm wear. Ratty leggings and a gray T-shirt. But! I do have makeup done (I've recently rediscovered how much I love eyeshadow) and my hair is cute (complete with glitter)

On my reading pile: Still all the same things. I've read very little in the last week, other than one day in the waiting room of Veterans Affairs, but I had Goose with me, so I was constantly involved in conversation with her. 

On my T.V.: We're still finishing Goose's movie choice (Ivy and Bean), as it was hard to focus when we were all sick. Ella and I started Dead or Love on Netflix, another undubbed Japanese show. I finally finished the first episode of The Greatest Teacher (also on Netflix, also an undubbed Japanese drama). Goose asked to watch Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom, and I will happily rewatch it, ha. I'm impatiently waiting for the next season of Hell's Kitchen. 

Looking around the house: I have to clean off the mantel. Things just tend to get collected there, mail, etc. The same with my desk, ugh. Otherwise, it's business as usual. Goose is outside on the porch swing. Ella's in the kitchen, cleaning. Goose's cat Perla is asleep in my office chair. 

To Do List: I'm going to the hotel to check over their garden, then come home and do a load of towels. Maybe I will go through my makeup, and see if the girls want anything. We went through my earrings last week, and Goose made out like a bandit. Ella took maybe two pairs. Goose is definitely the more girly of my girls. I may go for a run this evening. 

What I'm creating this week: I got through some writers block and am writing a (long) short story, and I'm doing some flower arrangements for a friend. 

From the camera: I went to visit a client today and here are some of the dahlias I planted for her. 

Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses: I'm still in Psalms in my reading (and will be there for quite a while, I imagine). Can I ask y'all to pray for my very best friend in the world? She's dealing with some really scary health issues. I love this girl more than anything, other than my kids. We've been friends for forever and I can't and don't want to imagine life without her. 

Have an amazing week, ladies!