Happy Homemaker Monday: May 12, 2025

 Holy heck, you guys. I blinked and it's May! Ella turns 19 (what?!) at the end of this week, and Goose will be 8 not quite two weeks after that. How is my baby going to be 8? And Ella's an adult, what the heck is going on. I'm not ready for my kids to grow up, but I recognize that they are gonna, and I want to enjoy every stage. 

Without further ado though, let's get on with this post. 

The weather in my neck of the woods: So much rain, y'all. I think we have a short break from it right this minute, but it's gonna rain more and there's already a flash flood watch. It's really messing with my anxiety, as I have a lot of that left over from Helene. I think most everybody in my county does. 

As I look outside my window: It's all gray and cloudy. Most of the railings on my porch have plant pots on them, welcome to Spring in my little house in the mountains. If it would stop pouring, I'd get more planting done. 

Right now, I am: Typing up this post, and planning a last minute lunch outing with my friend Angela. Bopping along to Noah Kahan, and watching the breeze ruffle my poppy plants. Admiring the striped blanket I got at Sam's Club a few summers ago. I canceled my work day today because flooding is not conducive to planting or gardening or anything work-y.

Thinking and pondering: Seriously considering going low(er) carb. I did a few years ago and it was great. And then I found out I was being cheated on and it threw my diet all the way off. Ugh. I think it's definitely time. That means adjusting meals and such, but I'm more than ready. 

On my bedside table: My phone, a lot of books, a wavy-noodle guy pen, an Amazon package that has the components of one of Ella's birthday presents. 

On my TV: Will Trent (I have to catch up), Dance Moms (Season 6 is insane). I watched the Ruby Franke Lifetime movie yesterday (Lifetime movies are awful but they are a comfort watch to me). I fell down the Ruby Franke rabbit hole last year and oh my goodness, yikes. 

Listening to: Noah Kahan, the cars going by. Rain falling. 

On the menu for this week: I'm making Chicken Gnocchi soup today. Tomorrow is Cube Steak and Rice, Wednesday is Ramen Stir Fry and I'm making a Beef Veggie Soup on Thursday. I go grocery shopping on Thursday this week. My schedule is thrown off some, but oh well. 

On my to-do list: Wash a load of towels. Organize books. Clean the bathroom. Maybe go to the gym. 

What I am sewing/creating; Something for Ella's birthday. 

My simple pleasure: Planting herbs on my front porch. I went to the plant nursery last week as a mother's day present, and I just really like gardening. (I better, it's what I chose to do for a living). 

Looking around the house: Definitely needs some TLC, Why do I always have things for Goodwill? (Because my youngest is growing too fast, and I'm decluttering like a madwoman) 

From the camera: 

Carolina All-spice. It smells like a starburst

Have a great week! 

At Some Point, I Have To Write Something

 ...and it may as well be now.

I miss blogging. I miss what the internet was, before we were expected to consume news and opinions and everything from everywhere. I miss when people didn't try to tell me what or how to believe or how to raise my kids or even how to recover from trauma. 

Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's there for me to see, or to read, or to fret over. 

I realized the other day how much I missed Pinterest. Not making Pinterest boards or what have you, just looking at things that interest me. Maybe I want to make a skirt. Maybe I want a new meatball recipe. Not two hundred ads, or the latest political arguments. 

I went out to dinner with a friend on Friday, and we stopped by a store and bought some books. And y'all, I missed BOOKS so much. Stephen King isn't gonna tell me who to vote for, or play me an ad for car insurance. I read a book nearly from beginning to end after work today. I laughed and cried, and held my breath. And nobody interrupted my book to play me an ad about medication and its side effects. 

I even have a hard time watching movies. When did we become so disregulated, y'all? What the heck happened and how do we fix it? 

I think going outside helps. Slapping the DND button on my phone and my watch helps. Waking up early and lighting a candle helps. 

I seriously do not think we were meant to live the way we are living. 

And I don't think I'll be doing that anymore. 

Just two pictures I've taken over the past few days.