Happy Homemaker Monday: April 6, 2025

 Good...afternoon! I slept in way later than I wanted (I actually have the day off, and may continue my Monday off rule for the rest of time, it's always nice to have an allegedly long weekend, even though I work most every Saturday) We spent most of this previous week reeling from losing our cat. Some new developments took place, and much to nobody's surprise we ended up at our Humane Society after church yesterday...and ended up taking a cat home. Before you judge me too harshly, please know that this was not a decision that was made lightly and I am forever thinking in the best interests of my children. Here we goooo

The weather in my neck of the woods: Cool and rainy. Supposed to get cooler and more rainy, and we may even see snow before it eventually warms up. Typical April weather. They say that April is "the cruelest month" when it comes to temperatures and I wholeaheartedly believe that. 

As I look outside my window: It's stopped raining for now. Still cloudy. My street is quiet and there aren't cars speeding by. The lawn is green with a million dandelions that I will not be treating the grass for, because they are food for bees. Sue me, I actually love dandelions in all their forms. 

Right now, I am: Watching Goose draw faces in her sketchbook. Typing up this post. Mentally going over the rolodex of things I've gotta do today yet. Days off are so strange. I know I have to rest then I feel unproductive and guilty. 

Something fun to share: For future reference, April 5th was National Dandelion Day! Dandelions are medicinal and beneficial and edible and I cannot say enough nice things about them. They are also often one of the first foods available for our pollinators as they emerge after winter. 

Thinking and pondering: Go down this rabbit hole with  me for a bit, will you? I was putting on an earring this morning. (My earrings are always mis-matched, one is a tiny silver gravestone that reads "See Ya" that I never take off, and the other is always different, today it's a star)...and I was picking out whatever one I was going to wear and I thought to myself...such freedom. I was raised in a strict, scary environment with almost no freedom...so to have so many choices with something so simple is wild. It's mindblowing things that I don't think about now, I wouldn't have ever been allowed to do as a kid, or even a young adult. (Nose piercing? Nope. Wild nail polish? Absolutely not. I couldn't even pick out my own clothes) Looking at adult me in the mirror is crazy because my mother would (and has!) have so much to say about how I look or what I wear. but childhood me is secretly so happy because I had all these crazy ideas about clothes and now I can wear whatever I want. Watching Ella and Goose dress however the heck they want brings me such joy and I am all too happy to buy whatever articles of clothing they fancy. 

They have different styles, and I love it so much. Also, this was taken at the shelter yesterday hehe

On my bedside table: A rose quartz that I think Ella put there, butterfly stickers, my colored pencils, water, a portable nail dryer...it's a LOT. 

On my TV: I'm up to my eyeballs with Dance Moms. Also watching Will Trent and whatever else I wish. That freedom that I was talking about earlier? It also extends to things like TV and music, because that was another aspect closely controlled by my mother.

Listening to: Markers in a sketchbook, Ted the rabbit in his hutch, "Bread and Bleeding" by Penny and Sparrow on Spotify. In another universe, I'm married to Andy Baxter's voice. He could read the phone book and I would listen with all of my attention. 

On the menu for this week: Winter Soup today. Chicken Stir Fry tomorrow. I have some meal ideas for the rest of the week, but they are all interchangeable. I bought ingredients for Hungarian Goulash so that will be one of them. 

On my to-do list: Make dinner, fold laundry, sort through some clothes. 

What I am creating at the moment: A cleaner living space. Maybe a skirt if I get around to it. 

My simple pleasure: Ella and I started a walking workout last month. It's honestly been so nice to walk around with my oldest and laugh and joke and see wildlife, even if the wildlife is just worms and frogs. 

Looking around the house: It's in need of attention, especially my poor sink where I've been keeping plants and seedlings. Things kinda went south after Ren died and I'm excited to get the house into order. A clean sink is one of those weird things that makes or breaks the kitchen for me. 

From the camera: 

Meet Gypsy, with the one white whisker. He's one and a half, and we kept the shelter's name, as a nod to my heritage. (Before anybody judges, I am yet to meet one of us who thinks Gypsy is a slur) He's slowly adjusting to non-shelter life, but we are so happy to have him home. 

Bible Verse, Devotional: I'm reading in Genesis that it took 100 years to finish the Ark. Of course people lived a lot longer back then. Sometimes I feel like it will take me 100 years to finishe a project...

Have a beautiful week!