End of Month Daybook . . .

 

Happy Spring! Spring has sprung in my little place on earth. The leaves are beginning to bud, my irises are pushing up through the dry soil, little bugs are starting to crawl, and the birds are singing. What more could I ask for? Rain. We are so very dry here in Idaho.

All of this feels early—these are things that usually don’t happen until the end of April or even the first of May. And while I love the promise of spring, I can’t help but feel a little worried. If everything blooms too soon, a late, wet, heavy snow could come and break the branches. It’s happened before, and I’m sure it will happen again.

For now, I’m choosing to enjoy the beauty of this early season… and hope the weather is kind to it.

On My Playlist - A few weeks ago, I went to a thrift store with my daughters and two of my granddaughters. The only thing I came home with was… you guessed it… vinyl records!

I love listening to vinyl instead of the radio or music from my phone or computer. There’s just something about it—the sound, the simplicity—that takes me right back to the “good old days.”

This is one of the albums I found and I am really enjoying it!

The Weather - Well, the wind is always bad this time of year, but it has been especially strong these past few weeks. Two weeks ago, we had wind gusts up to 70 miles an hour. That isn’t common for Idaho. It caused quite a bit of damage, including road closures and a number of car accidents.

We were fortunate not to have any major damage here—just a few broken branches from our big poplar trees—but so many large trees were completely toppled by the wind.

Last week brought very warm temperatures in the upper 70s. Truly, this is so unusual for Idaho! I loved it, but it dried things out even more than they already were.

Today the highs will be in the upper 60's, which is more like it should be.  But, the rest of the week will be slightly warmer, even into the upper 70's

Right now I'm - Well, it’s Monday, and I’m trying to reset my house from the weekend craziness. Life just seems to keep moving as fast as it possibly can, and I can’t seem to keep up with it. 😐

I’ve put a load of laundry in, changed my bed, and spent 40 minutes on my rebounder—trying to get both my house and myself back in order. There’s still more to do: something to figure out for dinner, floors to vacuum upstairs and down, and a kitchen that needs tidying.

Some days feel like this… a lot of effort to catch up, to put things back in place, and to find a little calm in the middle of it all. Maybe that’s what Mondays are for.  

Thinking and pondering - Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about the unrest in the world. War, wherever it happens, carries such a heavy cost—not just financially, but in the lives and hearts of so many people. It’s hard to take in at times, and it makes me even more grateful for the quiet, ordinary moments at home. I think, more than anything, it leaves me praying for and hoping for peace.  My thoughts just continually go to all the things that are happening in the world.  

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the changes in my family. As my children grow older, I find myself holding on tightly to the memories we’ve made, while also looking ahead to all the wonderful moments still to come. 

A few weeks ago, we went to dinner with Brody, one of my grandsons and his girlfriend.  It was such a delight to finally meet her. She is charming, kind, beautiful, and smart—truly seems like the perfect match for him. A few days later, it was Brody’s birthday, and it felt so special to gather together and mark another year of his life. Moments like these remind me how quickly time passes, and how precious each memory becomes.

And then there’s Caleb, who just turned 18—I can hardly believe it! We went to lunch to celebrate, and just watching him, while enjoying the company of his parents and sister, filled my heart with happiness. At the same time, it made me long for the days when I could cuddle him and savor the simple sweetness of his youth.

Just being with him reminds me how quickly time passes, and how precious each memory becomes. I find myself cherishing the past, celebrating the present, and looking ahead with excitement to all the joys still ahead for him.

We also celebrated a birthday for my oldest grandson, Christian. It’s amazing how quickly they grow up—turn into adults, get married, and become such remarkable humans! Earlier this month, we were able to see him and his wonderful wife, Lisa, which was such a treat. They don’t live close to us, but when they are here, Christian and Lisa love spending time with my husband and I.

As a child, he and his sister spent six months living with us while his parents were at the hospital in another state with his youngest sister. During that time, we developed such a beautiful bond with him, and it warms my heart that he still treasures that connection. I love that he enjoys laughing with us, playing games, and asking for advice as he moves forward in life. Seeing him now, thriving and happy, reminds me how precious every stage of life truly is.

How I'm feeling -My health is improving more and more each day! A few weeks ago, I spoke with my doctor, and after reviewing CT scan results, he gave me the wonderful news that I’m free to get on with life—no visit needed for another two months! Rebounding has been such a gift, helping me improve my balance, build stamina, and strengthen my overall health. I still have a few areas to fine-tune, but every day I can feel myself growing stronger and more vibrant. Life feels brighter, and I’m so grateful for this progress!

In the kitchen - Tonight I'm making, Russian Chicken.  This recipe is so easy, and perfect with a green salad or a veggie of your choice.  Tonight we're having it with green beans and pickled beets.  

RUSSIAN CHICKEN FOR TWO

4-5  chicken tenders, cut into 2 inch cubes

1/2 cup apricot or peach jam

1/2 pkg. dry onion soup mix

1/3 jar of Russion salad dressing 

(All of these measurments are estimates - put as much or a little of the sauce as you like).

Simply put the chicken in a baking dish.  Then mix together the dressing, jam and soup mix.  Stir and pour over the top of the raw chicken, stiring to make sure the chicken is coated.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 min., checking with a thermometer to make sure chicken is done.  Enjoy!

We like to serve this chicken over rice or noodles, but it is perfect on it's own. 

Looking around the house -  

Today, looking around the house, I notice an empty wall where my old piano used to stand. Last Friday, I sold it, and I’ll admit it was bittersweet—I felt a mix of sadness and a little regret. I had that old piano for 35 years, and I loved it.  It was very old, most likely built in the early 1800's . . . And she was so pretty!  But now that it’s gone, I’m feeling much lighter. The people who bought it seemed so happy, and I know they’ll take good care of it. 

Now the real fun begins! I’m going to paint the hallway, dining room, kitchen, and living room. I’ll move the hutch from the dining room into the piano’s spot, which will open up so much more space around the dining table. Onward and upward!

Just sayin' - 

Have a  wonderful week!! 

Hugs and Love,

Barb

HELLO MARCH . . .

March is the time to bloom with kindness and grow with grace. 

Welcome, March! Our month of birthdays, extra cake, and maybe a few added pounds — and so much love. I’m incredibly thankful for all the special people in my life that I will get to celebrate this month. 💗

On my playlist -  Written by Hank Williams, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is one of my favorite songs. It’s often called one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and I believe that’s true. I especially love Glen Campbell’s version — he sings it so beautifully. It speaks to feelings I carry more often than I wish I did.

The Birthdays – Nathan is our very first March birthday, and he sets the bar high for the whole month. He’s a freshman in high school this year, and somehow he manages to be amazing, smart, talented, and genuinely funny all at the same time! He can be a little goofy (which definitely keeps life interesting), but underneath that is a steady confidence and capability that makes all of us so proud.

Nathan can fix just about anything. If something’s broken, he’s the one we call. He’s an incredible welder—patient, precise, and creative—and he has such a natural artistic ability. It’s a rare and wonderful combination: strong hands that can build and repair, paired with an artistic eye that notices beauty in the details.

He loves to fish, run, ski, play video games, and camp—basically anything that gets him outdoors and moving. He’s happiest with fresh air, open space, and something to accomplish. And yes, he’s very handsome too. ;0) But even more than that, he’s kind, capable, and deeply loved. We are so grateful he is ours to celebrate this month.

Update – Nathan has a bad cold, so we won’t be able to celebrate with him today. :0(

I'm Thinking About - Clara! This is one of my beautiful granddaughters! She is smart, talented, sometimes a little crazy and playful, sometimes quiet, sometimes giggly — but always amazing and so very loved, especially by her family.

Clara is a freshman in high school, and last month she placed first in the state debate competition, competing against seniors! She will be heading to Virginia for the national competition, and we could not be more proud of her.  She is also number one in her freshman class at her high school!

She’s a girl after my own heart — I loved debate and speech when I was her age. I’ll be cheering her on every step of the way!

I’m Wearing – Comfy jogging pants, a t-shirt, and my fluffy white slippers. Even though the sun is shining, it’s still cold here in Idaho. Sunshine doesn’t always mean warmth this time of year!

I’m Creating – I ordered the yarn to make a blanket for my granddaughter, and I’m so excited to get started. I hope it turns out as cute as the pattern. I also finished my cross-stitch project! I can still see plenty of little flaws (why do we always notice those first?), but it will be beautiful once it’s framed and hanging on the wall — whether in my home or someone else’s. ;0)

I’m Dreaming About – Warmer weather, garden plans, camping plans, vacation plans, patio-sitting plans… you know, all those things we start dreaming about when spring is on its way. 

We’re planning a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois, with one of my daughters and her family this summer. We’re so excited to visit the places that are so important to my faith — to walk the same ground the early Saints once walked, to imagine their sacrifices, their courage, and their deep trust in the Lord. There’s something powerful about standing in a place where so much faith was lived out in real, ordinary days. I’m looking forward not just to seeing the historic sites, but to feeling the Spirit there and remembering what matters most. There’s still plenty of planning to do, but we’re getting there — slowly but surely.

I’m Working On – Getting into shape and building my stamina. I bought a rebounder (aka, a mini trampoline), and I’ve been using it for about two weeks now. I love it! I can already feel improvement in my balance, stamina, and strength. If you’ve been thinking about something easy and effective, get a rebounder. It’s also fun! I put on some upbeat music, pop in my earbuds, and bounce away.

From My Kitchen – Earlier this week, I was in the mood for soup. It was cold, snowy, and windy — basically a perfect soup day. I always buy a rotisserie chicken when I go to Sam's Club because they’re delicious and one of the best bargains in the store at $4.98 each.

This week, I put the chicken bones in the Instant Pot along with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and a few tablespoons of vinegar, then pressure-cooked it for two hours. Perfect bone broth every time. I picked through the bones and vegetables, saving the good bits for Indy, and discarded the rest. Then I added more fresh vegetables, some chopped cooked chicken, and a can of white beans to the broth. It was delicious with fresh rolls — I love a good, brothy soup.

I also made bread. I usually bake bread every two weeks.

I decided to make cookies for Bob.  He's been asking me to make these for a long time.  I love a nice chewy chocolate chip cookie.  He loves fluffy, soft, chocolate chip cookies.  This could be  problem!  But, This recipe is the best one I've found for perfect, fluffy, delicious chocolate chip cookie...

I'll freeze these cookies and just take a few out when we want them, and keep a few to eat this week.

You can find the recipe here!

Something Fun - On Friday, we went to the Elk refuge in, Jackson Hole, Wyoming with my daughter and her family.  It was a windy day, but not too cold... Just a gorgeous and fun day.

When we boarded the wagon and started talking with the young woman who was taking us on the tour and steering the wagon, we realized we knew her. She’s the same age as my granddaughter — they went to school together and played baseball together for years! I remember her being such a fun, bright young woman. She still is!

It really is such a small world. My granddaughter was so excited when she saw this photo — it brought back so many memories for her. It made the tour even more special for me.

You can see Snow King ski slope in the background.  I learned to ski at Snow King... Such great memories!  A few runs have been added since I skied there ;0)

You can see how bare the ground is this year.  Usually, you would take the wagon ride in the snow and watch them feed the elk, but because of the lack of snow, there has been enough vegetation to feed all of the elk and buffalo this year. This of course is just a few of the elk on the elk refuge where we were, and no buffalo... There are actually another two thousand or so elk that we could see way in the background.

The horses that pulled our wagon were a beautiful pair of Percheron's.  Their names are Colt and Rugger.  They are smaller than some of the other teams they have at the refuge, but they're so beautiful and equally strong.  It made me miss the days when we had our own horses in our pasture.

At The End Of The Day - I haven't  really looked for sunsets lately.  I know they are there, somewhere under the clouds.  This is a beautiful sunset photo from, September of 2024.  

Just sayin' - 

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead.  I will try to have one as well.

Hugs and Much Love,

Barb

Almost a new month. . .

I hope everyone has been warm!  I know it's been a very snowy and cold winter for most of the country.  I hope you're getting some much needed sunshine and drier weather.

Outside my window - We finally got some much-needed snow! It’s been such a dry winter, so we were truly happy to see white fluff falling from the sky. We only received about four inches, but that’s more than we’ve had all winter, and it felt like a gift. Our world looked fresh and clean again.

I'm hoping that March will come in like a lion, bringing lots snow and rain.  Then it can go out like a lamb, with warmer weather and sunshine.  

Something from my playlist -  I love the message in this song . . . 

Something I'm thinking - We don’t go all out for Valentine’s Day. Bob and I get the gift of being together every day, and I like to think we find little ways to love each other all year long. But this year, I made a special dinner (the recipe is in my last post!), and it was absolutely delicious. Sometimes we just like to have simple food, a quiet evening, and the comfort of being home — and that feels pretty fabulous to us.

Peach Glazed Chicken, green salad, rice pilaf and homemade buiscuts

Peach cobbler with ice cream and caramel sauce

On Sunday, we celebrated Valentine’s Day with all of our children, it was so much fun. We made Cafe Rio-style salads and topped the evening off with warm brownies, ice cream, and every sweet “fixin’” you could imagine. The food was delicious, but honestly, that wasn’t the best part. Having everyone together — hearing the laughter, watching the conversations around the table, just being in the same room — that was the real gift. Days like that remind me what Valentine’s Day is truly about.

I had so much fun, I forgot to take any pictures to remember the Day!  

What's cookin' - Last week I made one of our favorites -  homemade mushroom soup!  I make this recipe in the InstantPot, it's so easy and always delicious.  

Bob likes lots of salt and pepper, I like lot's of oyster crackers ;0)  This is a recipe from, Step-By-Step, Instant Pot, by Jeffrey Eisner.  The recipe looks complicated, but it's not, I promise!  And what I love about this book, is that you can make the recipes your own.  For instance, I don't use truffle oil, and I didn't have heavy cream that day.  I did have evaporated milk, so that's what I used instead.  I also like my soup a little thicker, so I added and extra 2 tbls. of flour to the sauted mushrooms, and it turned out perfect.  

There are so many delicious recipes in this book.  I'm looking forward to making more of them, especially this coming summer.  

I must have been in the mood to cook last week, because the very next day I made bread. I rarely buy store-bought bread unless I absolutely have to — I just don’t care for it, and truthfully, I really enjoy the process of making it myself. There’s something so satisfying about kneading the dough and watching it rise.

Sometimes, instead of shaping two loaves, I’ll turn one loaf into cinnamon rolls or dinner rolls to go with a meal. We don’t eat a lot of bread, so when I do make two loafs, I always freeze one. When I pull it out later and let it defrost, it tastes just as fresh as the day I made it. There’s nothing quite like homemade bread.

I'm creating - I only have one more color to do on my cross stitch project.  There are so many mistakes, but cross-stitch can be pretty forgiving - thank goodness.

Something cute - Our cute little, Indy really needs to have some time outside.  She doesn't like to go out without one of us with her, so, this is what she does all day...

And at night, this is what she does... Sleep all day, play all night... Such a stinker!  I really need to do something about that. 😕

Just sayin' -

I hope everyone has a great week-end.  And I hope you are safe, happy, healthy and feel loved.

Hugs and love,

Barb