Happy Homemaker Monday: September 28, 2026

 I'm late to the party, as usual. It's my "on" Monday, so I'm at an overnight on the farm. Today's been kind of a lot, so this is the first chance I've had to sit down with my computer. Here we go! 

The weather: It's finally starting to feel like Fall here! We've had nighttime temperatures in the low 50's. Daytime temps have been in the 60's and 70's. Bliss!

As I look outside my window: It's nighttime so it's dark, heheh. I can kind of see the shadow of the big willow tree if I look really hard. 

Right now, I am: Typing up this post, looking at the work cat next to me, hoping he doesn't chew up my phone charger. (He has this nasty  habit of eating phone chargers)

Thinking and pondering: That imposter syndrome is a very real thing. I was on the farm today, thinking "What if I have no idea what I'm actually doing?" (like I haven't grown flowers professionally for 11 years)....and then a client came through and gushed about the flowers and I had a wake-up moment of "Of course I know what the heck I'm doing, I've been doing it for years!" But that feeling of "What if I'm just a big ole fake?" is so overwhelming sometimes. 

How I am feeling: Tired and accomplished, which is a great feeling at the end of the day. 

On the breakfast plate: I had coffee and McBreakfast. Not the best, but what are you gonna do?

On the lunch plate: It's my birthday week and one of my friends took me out for muffins and chai and it was amazing. 

On the dinner plate: I made steak fajitas, and rice. 

What I'm wearing: pajamas and a zip-up hoodie. 

On my reading pile: Everything! *cries* Dahlia season doesn't lend itself to reading. 

On my TV this week: "Your turn to kill", rewatching "Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom", British Baking Show and Hell's Kitchen and the final season of Tokyo Revengers is going to be out this week!

On the menu this week: The aforementioned fajitas, smoked sausage and rotini, and something involving cabbage because I was given a giant cabbage this week. 

Looking around the house: I'm at the farm house tonight, so all I see is my laptop bag and overnight bag and my purse on the dresser here. 

To-do list for the week: I actually wrote it all out yesterday and new stuff is always getting added, but I have to go to the bank, pay some bills, visit all my client gardens, visit a house I'm slowly cleaning, see various friends to celebrate my birthday (it's on Saturday). Whew. 

What I am creating: God-willing, two birthday cards. One belated one for a friend and I'm starting on my best friend's birthday card (her birthday is Christmas Eve, but she's my absolute best friend and I love her and she deserves the best)

From the camera: 

I got my first birthday presents! A friend crocheted me a bookmark and these three little pumpkins for my office. 

Prayers, Devotionals: Please be in prayer for a friend of mine. God knows who she is and what the needs are. 

Have a lovely week ahead! 

This Past Week in Pictures (9)

 

The Past Week in Pictures (8)

 

Reclaiming Myself and Where Have I Been?

 I've been here. Except not. In an effort to understand myself better, I've taken some time off of here and most of the socials (except for Instagram because I talk to myself in stories, it's free therapy ha) 

Last week, I had a conversation with a stranger and it showed me that my self esteem is still very much a mess from 6 years ago, which led me to do an emotional deep dive...and think about what's healthy and unhealthy for me. 

What happened over the last 6 years hasn't been my fault: not the pandemic, not the infidelity, not Hurricane Helene, or my mentor's health issues, or my own health issues last Fall. But the way I've reacted to any and all of it has been so unhealthy, and I need to own that. 

So, little by little, I'm doing more of the things that I love and putting order to my emotions, and my house, and my life. It's been a lot of saying "no" to things and people and places. It's been a lot of saying "no" to myself. too. 

Slowly but surely I am getting to where I need to be. I should be back on Sunday with my weekly picture post, and on Monday with Happy Homemaker Monday, and maybe one day a recipe or something fun. It's hard to create when you're living in survival mode, but I'm determined to leave that mode behind. 

I just wanted to tell everybody I'm not pulling a disappearing act. I'm still here. I'm just processing. 

Meanwhile, enjoy these pictures of flowers from the past few weeks. 

This Past Week in Pictures (7)

 It's been a weirdly emotionally harrowing week, but I'm doing my best. 

Happy Homemaker Monday: August 31, 2026

 I'm late, of course. Not as late as I was last week, but still late. I'm on my overnight at work, and I just finished watering the dahlias. I'm supposed to head out on an errand with a friend in a little bit, so hopefully I shall get this post done before then. 

Here we go! 

The weather: We're having a mini-heatwave. (Which means mid-80's in the mountains). Boooooo. That messes up my schedules because then I can only work early and late. 

As I look outside my window: The sun is setting on the farm. There's no movement in the willow tree branches because there's no breeze. The sky is orange and blue. Pure bliss. 

Right now, I am: Typing up this post and watching Jerk-cat (the work cat) sleep on my laptop bag. Watching the clock for when I have to leave. Taking all the deep breaths. 

Thinking and pondering: This week's work schedule. The fact that I am constantly mentally overwhelmed. Congratulating myself a little for holding it together (though yesterday was HARD). 

How I am feeling: Pretty well, considering the emotional mess I was yesterday. 

On the breakfast plate: Leftover Mexican chicken. 

On the lunch plate: I had a piece of Tiramisu. Suuuuper healthy, I know. 

On the dinner plate:  A friend delivered me a sandwich to work, and I had some Zuppa Toscana as well. 

What I'm wearing: Black shorts and a tank top with a picture of the sun on it. My ratty gray Converse which you can pry off my cold dead feet. 

On my reading pile: Literally everything, ha. Still in Psalms. Still not finished with anything. And  I borrowed "Imaginary Friend" by Stephen Chbosky from a friend. So, even more books I'm not reading. 

On my TV  this week: Uhhhh...not much of anything. Dahlia season is not a TV watching time of year. But Goose and Ella want to finish "Medalist" (it's an anime on Hulu) and Goose really wants to finish Mr. Hiiragi's Homeroom (which I will happily rewatch another 80 times, haha). 

On the menu: I made Zuppa Toscana tonight. Tomorrow is breakfast for dinner, Wednesday is Cabbage Roll Casserole. I have a surplus of rice and potatoes so I will be centering meals around that stuff. 

Looking around the house: It's the house at the farm, not my house, ha. It's quiet and the work cats and work dog are all asleep. It's dark because I prefer to keep my room here dark. There are a few things I'm going to tidy up first thing in the a.m 

To-do list for the week: I have to check in with clients, deliver some flowers, tie up some flowers at the farm, make sure the mums at the hotel don't die with this heatwave, go through Goose's clothes and decide what to keep and what to donate. 

What I am creating: A bunch of flower arrangements. 

From the camera: 

The goldenrod is blooming! Another way I know Autumn is coming soon!

Have a lovely week! 

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.