Monday, September 28, 2020

Master List and Menu Planning Monday - September 27, 2020

Good morning, Everyone! Happy First Monday of Fall 2020! ๐Ÿ

How are you today? How was your week and weekend? Ours here was good, busy, and very productive!

I posted about the first half of the week on Thursday. As a follow-up to it, I'm excited to tell you that the carport is finished! All the totes from moving four years ago are gone and the tarps that were up to protect them from the weather are down! Also, my car was fixed and ready to be picked up by Friday afternoon.

In addition to that, my dad's wind generator is down (something I've wanted done for more than two years now) and the cousins brought in six tons of gravel to be split and spread between our driveway and our son and dil's across the street. 

Much has gotten done this week! I can't believe that some of these things that have needed done for so long are suddenly behind us! It feels so good! ๐Ÿ˜Š


Bumblebee on Goldenrod

I worked on Saturday and, after church and lunch on Sunday, I worked on some correspondence. We had supper with our oldest son and his wife Sunday evening (pasta fagioli and a new cornbread recipe...both of which were absolutely delicious!!!) and watched Togo together afterwards. ๐Ÿ• Of course, Angie and I were both crying at the end, but it was so good! ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Now, here it is, Monday morning and almost time to head for work again. I'm going to cut this conversation short and get on with this week's master to-do list and menu planning Monday. Have a blessed day, y'all! ๐Ÿงก

False Asters

This week's master to-do list

- work
- complete my weekly "home blessing" ๐Ÿก 
- enjoy the cooler weather 
- deep clean the kitchen 
- host a WLMO movie night (The Cross and the Switchblade)
- continue working on the Van Gogh room (sorting, organizing, cleaning, and rearranging) ๐ŸŽจ
- further work towards decluttering and dejunking ๐Ÿ˜ฃ
- do laundry ๐Ÿ‘š
- figure the October budget and bills ๐Ÿ’ต
- bake bread ๐Ÿž
- mark a few things off my autumn bucket list
- light a pumpkin scented candle (that's one of the things on my list) ๐Ÿ•ฏ
- do some planning ๐Ÿ“”
- hike an trail ๐Ÿฅพ
- do a little geocaching (if opportunity arises) ๐Ÿงญ
- read ๐Ÿ“–
- walk daily ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ
- post a few blog posts ๐Ÿ’ป
- announce a special giveaway on this blog (Be watching for it!) ๐Ÿ‘€

This Week's Menus...

Monday - Breakfast for supper (French toast and fried apples)  
Tuesday - Tuna and noodles ๐ŸŸ
Wednesday - Stuffed pepper casserole 
Thursday - Brown Beans n' Kebobs 
(Bean Cookbook - Page 4)
Friday - Broiled salmon, baked sweet potatoes, and brussel sprouts ๐ŸŸ
Saturday - Dh's night to cook (tortellini) 
Sunday - Leftovers

Well, Ladies, that's it for today! I pray that all is well with you and yours and that you have a blessed week ahead!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Sunday, September 27, 2020

The Last Serenade of Summer

The last day of Summer 2020 was Monday, September 21st...nearly a week ago now. 

John and I celebrated it by building a fire in the fire pit and sitting outside for a couple of hours just enjoying it.


While doing so we were mesmerized by a gorgeous night sky as we soaked up the last waning sights and sounds associated with late summer evenings in southwest Missouri. 

Random thoughts flitted through my mind as took in all that was happening in nature around me; when I went inside I hurriedly wrote down as many of them as I could remember. 

As a memorial to that last beautiful night of Summer 2020, I will share some of those random thoughts with you here...

"A chorus of toad and frog voices blend with cicada and cricket sounds to create the last serenade of summer."

"The crescent moon hangs low in the southern sky and moves slowly across it, with Jupiter and Saturn trailing not far behind."

"Right at dusk a bat flutters across the sky as coyotes yelp in the distance."

"Lumbering trains, barking dogs, the sounds made by a car passing by...not even the sweet voices of children playing across the way...could block, nor detract from, the last serenade of summer."

Until next time,

~ Rebecca 

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Teleidoscope Thursday - September 24, 2020

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Teleidoscope Thursday - September 24, 2020

It's a quarter til eight on Thursday morning and I've been up for about an hour and a half. 

In that time I've bathed, dressed, made the bed, read my Bible, washed last night's dishes, wiped down the kitchen counters, shined the kitchen sink, and spritzed and shined the bathroom.

Now I'm ready to settle down with a cup of hot tea (Benter's with pumpkin spice Coffee-mate) and spend a few minutes visiting with you.

How has your week been thus far?

My week here is going well, but it's been busy. It seems that there is much to be done on every front and not enough hours in a day to get it all done...BUT...I am determined to get things decluttered around here, which will help, but, at the same time, I am trying very hard to slow down and take each moment (and circumstance) as it comes. With my personality, that's hard. I'm always looking ahead to the next thing on the list and list gets longer and longer every day. It seems that it's a never-ending cycle, but I'm determined to break it before it breaks me! 

- I worked alone at work on Monday, which, for what I was working on, was nice. I cleaned the nature center and designed and put together the autumn bulletin board. I featured fall favorites found at Prairie State Park...a monarch butterfly, New England aster, showy goldenrod, fiery red sumac, a bobcat hiding in the tall grasses, big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, a coyote, a buckeye butterfly, white-tailed deer, and, of course, the bison. I labeled each photo to help with plant and animal identification and included a couple of thought-provoking questions for anyone who takes the time to read and ponder them. 

- I also, with the help of the person who created the original documents, via the telephone and with much picture taking and sending, created answer keys for a couple of run-offs on Native American tools made from bison pieces and parts for a 4th grade teacher that had called requesting them. I was happy to be able to create them, scan them into a PDF file, and e-mail them to her. I will use those sheets myself in future programs at some point...IF...we ever get back to doing any. ๐Ÿ˜ฉ

- I worked around the house on Tuesday and started my fall cleaning (washed the bedroom and bathroom curtains, cleaned out the closet, exchanged summer clothes for fall and winter, loaded up two white trash bags full of stuff to be donated, and did a thorough cleaning of both rooms). I made it as far as my kitchen with general cleaning and got caught up on laundry.

- The starter on my car has been dragging a bit lately and, as I was running errands around town on Tuesday, it finally went. Fortunately, my last stop that day was at my daughter's house. When I got ready to leave, no matter what we did, the car would not start. I called my mechanic and made arrangements for the car to be towed to the vo-tech at Lamar; I am hoping to get it back sometime today or tomorrow. In the meantime, our daughter and son-in-law have very generously lent us their Kia, for which we are very thankful!

- Yesterday I took a family member grocery shopping at Aldi's in Pittsburg. Aldi's are in the middle of remodeling and will be closing for a month come Monday. While I was there I took advantage and started our winter stock-up. I also spent way too much money on fall favorites and stuff for upcoming get-together...apples, hot dogs, candy corn, boxes of hot cocoa mix, marshmallows (all that sugary stuff that none of us need), long-handled wiener-roasting sticks, paper plates, paper bowls, hot cups, and more. I also got quite a bit of meat (ground turkey, turkey Italian sausages, ham for beans, and chicken breasts)...much of it on mark-down. Now I shouldn't have to buy anything until Thanksgiving! ๐Ÿ˜†

- A few random things to share...

   ... if you haven't checked out these free printable recipe cards yet, and need some, this is a great place to get them. I've printed off multiple designs on card stock and am using them to get all my loose recipes organized and into my recipe file. I use the 4" x 6" cards, but there are other sizes. 

Here's the link:

https://www.freeprintablerecipecards.net/category/4x6

   ... here is a neat article on how to preserve autumn leaves from the Missouri Department of Conservation. I can't wait to try this method! 

Here's the link: https://mdc.mo.gov/xplor/2020-09/how#:~:text=One%20way%20to%20preserve%20leaves,and%20flexible%20all%20winter%20long.

   ... while at Walmart in Lamar recently I found these pink bins on clearance for $1.00 each and these pretty turquoise towels on clearance for $2.00 each. 

- My plan today is to work at home...continue fall cleaning and decluttering, get the car port finished, work in the Van Gogh room, and, hopefully, go get my car. 

What are your plans for today?

Until next time...

~Rebecca

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Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Fall Bucket List 2020


Summer is officially over and, once again, my favorite season returns...AUTUMN! Warm days, chilly evenings, falling leaves, bonfires, and all things pumpkin spice! How nice! ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ๐ŸŒป๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ„




I've been thinking about some of the things that I would like to do this fall, and accomplish over the course of it, and, while I know that I won't get to all of them, at least this list will help me to stay focused on the season and enjoying it to the fullest. Won't you join me as I dream? ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, 
and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day 
and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

My Autumn Bucket List 2020

1. Write my autumn bucket list
2. Plan my autumn menus (this will be done weekly through my Master List and Menu Plan Monday posts) 
3. Celebrate autumn birthdays with the grandlittles ๐ŸŽ‚
4. Make a batch of Mini Baked Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts ๐Ÿฉ
5. Make caramel apples ๐ŸŽ
6. Do fall crafts with the grandlittles ๐Ÿ‚
7. Enjoy a cup of Louisburg Cider
9. Host or attend a wiener roast ๐ŸŒญ
10. Visit a corn maze ๐ŸŒฝ
11. Add a new mum to my collection 
12. Enjoy a juicy, red apple ๐ŸŽ
13. Observe the autumnal nighttime sky ⭐๐ŸŒ ๐ŸŒŸ
14. Bake a batch of Spiced Walnut Scones 
15. Visit a pumpkin patch 
16. Enjoy a walk in the woods ๐Ÿ
17. Get some new fall-scented liquid hand soaps and hand sanitizers 
18. Enjoy a cup of pumpkin spice tea 
19. Try an autumn tea flavor that I've never tasted before
20. Enjoy an autumnal full moon (Corn Moon - September 2nd, Harvest Moon - October 1st,  - Blue Moon - October 31st, and Beaver Moon - November 30th) ๐ŸŒ•
21. Set up a hot beverage area for autumn hospitality
22. Make a pumpkin roll 
23. Log at least 30 new geocaches ๐Ÿงญ
24. Build a bonfire ๐Ÿ”ฅ
25. Aid in working the bison at work (annual vet checks and public auction) ๐Ÿƒ
26. Watch falling leaves ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ
27. Light an autumn-scented candle ๐Ÿ”ฅ
28. Listen to the honking of geese as they fly high overhead 
29. Observe, sketch, photograph, or note at least a dozen new or interesting things found in nature ๐Ÿ„๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ
30. Visit a wetlands area
31. Visit Fort Osage 
32. Go on a hayride 
33. Enjoy a cool and rainy day ☔
34. Carve a pumpkin ๐ŸŽƒ
35. Make a batch of Pumpkin Streusel Muffins ๐Ÿง
36. Observe a flock of migrating birds
37. Bake a pumpkin pie 
38. Go to the lake for a weekend getaway 
39. Make pumpkin butter
40. Watch To Kill A Mockingbird with Gregory Peck (an annual fall favorite) ๐ŸŽฅ
41. Lead an impromptu frost flower hike to observe frost flowers in the field ๐Ÿฅพ
42. Take at least 750,000 steps ๐Ÿฆถ
43. Walk 100 miles ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ
44. Lose 10 pounds over the course of the season
45. Vote in the upcoming presidential election ๐Ÿ’“☆๐Ÿ’™
46. Celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends ๐Ÿฆƒ
47. Weatherize our home before cold weather arrives ❆
48. Have the propane tank filled 
49. Clean up the yard (cut trees, trim bushes, put the garden to bed, etc.) 
50. Do a winter food and supply stock-up ๐Ÿฅซ

That's what's on my autumn bucket list. What's on yours? 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, September 21, 2020

Summer Bucket List 2020 Update

Normally, I don't like posting two posts in one day, but here it is...a Monday AND the last day of Summer 2020, so what's a girl to do???

And, I have to admit, I didn't mind summer so much this year, as I do most! In fact, the season fairly flew by without notice, leaving many fond memories behind. 

I am extremely thankful, too! Summer and I usually don't get along so well and this one was actually enjoyable! ๐ŸŒž

Here is my Summer 2020 update and, please note, that I am posting this post as originally written with completed items marked through with a line and notes made in bold type where appropriate. I have added a few pictures, too! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Zucchini Growing in Our Garden Last Summer

Here are some things that I'm looking forward to this summer and hope to accomplish throughout the course of it.

1. Write my summer bucket list
2. Plan my summer menus (these will be posted weekly in my 'Home Management' posts)

(My weekly 'Home Management' Posts are now posted as Master List and Menu Planning Monday posts. They have been simplified and basically focus on my weekly 'to do' list and menu plan.)

3. Celebrate summer birthdays with the grandlittles (and, believe me, there are a BUNCH of them!) ๐Ÿ‘ง๐ŸŽ‚๐Ÿ‘ฆ

Summertime Treats


4. Eat watermelon ๐Ÿ‰
5. Celebrate Independence Day with the fam ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’™6. Observe a full moon ๐ŸŒ•

Full Moon

7. 
Go to the zoo ๐Ÿง
8. Make red, white, and blue jello ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’™
9. Make homemade ice cream ๐Ÿจ

(Instead of ice cream mixes this year, I tried my hand at homemade strawberry ice cream using fresh ingredients and it turned out great! Next I want to try pumpkin!) ๐Ÿ˜‹

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

10. Catch a lightening bug 
11. Celebrate my birthday with a banana split ๐ŸŒ (it's an annual tradition)
12. Take a vacation (even if just for a few days and is somewhere close by) ๐Ÿš—
13. Enjoy the Perseid meteor shower ⭐๐ŸŒ ๐ŸŒŸ

Complete the following outdoor programs at work...

14. Lead a scheduled wildflower hike at Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site in June
15. Lead an evening stroll at Prairie State Park in July
16. Lead an evening stroll at Prairie State Park in August

Leading An Evening Stroll In Late August

17. Go stargazing ๐ŸŒŸ
18. Grill burgers on the grill ๐Ÿ”
19. Take a night hike ๐ŸŒœ

Late Evening Fading Into Night Out
On The Tallgrass Priarie At Night


20. Play in cool water on a hot day ๐Ÿคฝ
21. Go camping ⛺
22. Visit a state park that I've never been to before
23. Enjoy fresh produce and herbs out of our own garden ๐ŸŒฑ

Fresh Basil

24. Take a walk in the rain
25. Visit a botanical garden ๐ŸŒธ
26. Get together with the aunts
27. Go to Wonders of Wildlife with dd ๐Ÿ 
28. Enjoy a summer storm
29. Hike a new trail ๐Ÿฅพ
30. Host a bonfire ๐Ÿ”ฅ

(We didn't get a chance to host a bonfire over the summer, but on the last Friday before autumn our youngest son and his wife invited us over to have hot dogs roasted over a fire in their backyard, so, at least, we got to attend one. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities for bonfires come autumn!) ๐Ÿงก

31. Observe, sketch, or photograph at least a dozen new and interesting things found in nature ๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ›๐ŸŒ๐ŸŒป๐Ÿพ๐Ÿน๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐Ÿธ๐Ÿž๐ŸŸ๐Ÿข 

- observed Comet Neowise a number of times when it was passing through
- observed several Mississippi kites performing acrobatic feats over tallgrass prairie
- discovered three different places where passion flowers grow

Passion Flower

Monarch Butterfly

Milkweed Seed

Tiger Swallowtail

Barn Swallow

Dragonfly

Little Brown Mushrooms

Monarch Caterpillar

White Thistle

Owl Feather

Regal Fritillary 

32. Collect rocks
33. Preserve what I can of the summer bounty ๐ŸŒฝ



34. Replace broken stepping stones in front of the house

35. Continue with efforts to go-through, use-up, clear-out, clean-up, re-purpose, recycle, and give-away what I can around here

(Haven't done as much of this as I'd like, but have definitely made progress in this area.)

36. Organize cookbooks and recipes ๐Ÿณ

(Have organized the cookbooks and gathered up the recipes that I had scattered all over the place. I am now printing off free recipe cards that I found online and, every once in a while, I take a few minutes to copy off a recipe or two and add it to my recipe box. It will take a while to complete this project, but, at least I've got a good head start on it.)

Morning Glories

37. Be alert to opportunities that lend myself available as the hands and feet of Jesus on this hurting and troubled earth
38. Take, at least, 650,000 steps ๐Ÿฆถ
39. Walk 100 miles ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ

(Didn't keep track as well as I had planned to, but put in a definite 63 miles that I know of.) 

40. Lose 20 pounds over the season ๐Ÿก‡

(Didn't quite meet my goal. Have lost and kept off about somewhere between 15 though.)

That's it for my Summer 2020 update! Tomorrow I plan on posting my Autumn Bucket List for 2020! ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐Ÿ

Until then...
~Rebecca

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Master List and Menu Planning Monday - September 21, 2020

Good morning, Everyone! Happy Last Monday of Summer 2020! ๐Ÿ’—

How was your week and weekend? Ours here was good! 

I posted about the first half of the week in Thursday's post; on Friday John and I took that carload of stuff to the secondhand shop in Lamar, had lunch out, and did our shopping. We took the long way home and did a little geocaching while we were out and about. ๐Ÿงญ


Monarch on White Crownbeard

I worked on Saturday and, for the most part, Sunday was spent piddling around the place. We watched a few episodes of The Rifleman in the afternoon and went for a walk in the evening. Other than that, we worked on little odd jobs here and there around the house and property.


New England Asters

Overall the past week and weekend have been good, and productive, but, unfortunately, now it's time to go to work, so I've got to get a move on! Let's get on with this week's master to-do list and menu planning Monday, shall we?


Tallgrass Prairie All Dressed Up and Ready For Fall

This Week's Master To-Do List...

- work
- complete my weekly "home blessing" ๐Ÿก 
- celebrate the first day of fall ๐Ÿ
- do laundry ๐Ÿ‘š
- fall cleaning - bedroom, bathroom, and hallway ๐Ÿ‚ (I actually got a head start on this yesterday by going through the drawers in the vanity and sorting jewelry and hair stuff. Yeah!) 
- continue working on the Van Gogh room (sorting, organizing, cleaning, and rearranging) ๐ŸŽจ
- further work towards decluttering and dejunking ๐Ÿ˜ฃ
- make an Aldi's run with my cousin ๐Ÿ›’
- bake bread ๐Ÿž
- do some planning ๐Ÿ“”
- post some cards and letters ๐Ÿ“ฌ
- do a little geocaching (if opportunity arises) ๐Ÿงญ
- read ๐Ÿ“–
-walk daily ๐Ÿ‘Ÿ
- post a few blog posts ๐Ÿ’ป


Deer At The Picnic Area At Prairie State Park

This Week's Menus...

Monday - Breakfast for supper (turkey bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits with fried apples on the side) ๐Ÿฅ“
Tuesday - Chili mac and a tossed salad
Wednesday - Turkey burgers and oven fries ๐Ÿฆƒ
Thursday - Ham, beans, and cornbread ๐Ÿ– 
Friday - Broiled salmon with oven-roasted vegetables ๐ŸŸ
Saturday - Pasta, sauce, and homemade bread ๐Ÿ
Sunday - Leftovers

Well, Ladies, that's it for this time! I pray that all is well with you and yours and that you have a blessed week ahead!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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