Iced Tea Chat: I Need a Break

 

                                  If only I might have such a calm, cool appearance on these summer days!

Hello loves.  Come on in and have some tea.  I have lemonade which I can garnish with a bit of mint if you'd like.  I also have coffee that we can serve over ice.  The main point of drinks just now is that they must be cold.  And then I suggest we take our glasses, settle into a comfortable chair and have a nice long talk.  I have been saving up conversation because there are difficult days behind me.  I'm a bit apprehensive facing August.  What shall August bring us?  Besides the usual deep heat...

In June, Katie was no longer employed.  This was completely unexpected.  Admittedly we were all a bit cavalier because after all doesn't just everyone have a 'Help Wanted' sign in the window?  Indeed, they might, but the caveat is that they don't want just any help.  If you're overqualified, they won't even consider you.  If you're underqualified, they won't consider you.  You must stick right in the area of work where you are qualified and then go through a multiple interview process.

Diary of a Homemaker's Week: Briefly

 

Saturday:  Remember the restaurant I thought I was going to eat at on Wednesday with Mama?  Well, John took me there today.  I know it was his way of saying he was on my side, and I really appreciated it.  Thankfully the restaurant proved to be quite good.  I had a Birria Taco that was awesome and Green Enchiladas as my main entree.

I spent my afternoon strolling through a variety of vlogs on YouTube, looking for new sites to interest me, some of which have to do with gardening and preserving, some that are simply lifestyle, but simplified lifestyles.  It made me think long and hard about what I want to change in my life at present.  

July Musings: Patriot

A few weeks ago, Caleb and I were sitting in the breakfast area one morning and he motioned to the flag hanging outside the window.  It was unfurling in the breeze and I felt my heart swell. I do love to see our national Flag waving in a breeze!   Instinctively, I put my hand on my heart and said The Pledge of Allegiance.  Caleb paid attention.

The next morning, he came along and put his hand on his heart and said "Fwag".  So he and I did the Pledge of Allegiance together.  We did it for several mornings running.  John commented one morning, "I was surprised that you started teaching him that."  I said, "Don't you think it's important that he know it?  I don't know if they even teach it to children anymore, but I can remember standing before the flag at school each morning and I learned to respect and admire what our flag stood for.  It meant something to me at that time and it means something to me still."  John nodded.  "I know it.  It means something to me, too.  I just didn't expect he could be taught that so young."

The Homemaker Saves Money: Little Harvests

 

Thursday:  Yesterday at the grocery, I noted that 12 packs of Activia yogurt were just $3.28.  I thought this would be a perfect breakfast for the kids with toast this morning and they all seemed to enjoy it.  I had to give Caleb his dairy free yogurt of course, but it was a whole lot cheaper to feed the others regular dairy milk yogurts.

The children went outdoors to play this morning.  They pulled the wagons about the yard, set up bowling and played with that.  I walked around the garden area and harvest two more tomatoes and the seed head off a bit of dill.

Bootcamp: Living on a Little by Caroline French Benton

 

Living on a Little by Caroline French Benton was my first selection for reading for this Bootcamp session.  I initially took it up because I was just about to start Bootcamp when I found the book again, after mislaying it some months ago.  I found it on the very bottom of my magazine basket next to my chair.

The Homemaker Plans Her Week: Cool Spell?

 

In my home this week, we're going to take advantage of this 'cool spell' over the weekend and enjoy ourselves.  Truth, it is July and we're smack in the 90's but for two days we're supposed to experience 90F and not 98F...So yeah, a 'cool spell'.  

I'm not kidding myself in the least.  It's hot.  It's supposed to be hot.  It's going to stay hot.  It's July and then it will be August and it's going to be just as hot.  I'm not complaining.  I'm just sayin'.  

The Homemaker Plans Her Meals: Hot Weather Cookery

The most refreshing thing ever just now is a cool mandarin orange or a bowl of frozen grapes.  That said, I don't want to eat cold foods all the time.  I want hot meals but not heavy ones.  Finding the balance is the clue.  Contrasts in temperature is just as important as contrast in textures and colors to make a meal appeal to the taste buds.