Weekend Coffee Share....Come sit with me

It's another week of Weekend Coffee Share. I always love everyone's posts. Are you like me and try to visit everyone? It doesn't always happen but I try. I have loved getting to know different bloggers and I figure if they take the time to write a post, I'll find the time to visit, even if it's a week later. I truly enjoy what you all share and I often learn so much. 

Check out all the other posts on Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. I'm off to go visit some now. #weekendcoffeeshare.

If we were having coffee or tea we'd probably talk about:

The fact that I didn't get around to commenting on last weeks posts. I think what makes it hard is I truly love sitting, reading the posts and taking time, and the time gets away and I don't sit down to do it. I think I'm going to take time today to go back and at least read several. I love to visit all of them, but there are some in particular that I always seem to enjoy and I at least try to visit those who take time to come and visit me. 

The Weather:  The Weather has fluctuated from upper 70's to mid 90's. Mostly hovering in the 80's though yesterday it got to 94+. Yuck. This next week is showing the upper 80's, maybe one day of 70's and one of 90's.  

What we're thinking about: I've had a hard time getting my steps the last few weeks. Last week I barely made the 70,000 and this week, man, if I don't get some moving in today I will be under 70,000. It's not because I haven't wanted to, but things here and there get in the way, though I also think that the fact we aren't doing it as an official challenge with nothing at stake, has a lot to do with it. I need to have that mindset, no matter what. 

What we're thankful for: I am really wanting to focus on gratitude and being more intentional. I purchased this book awhile back and haven't started it yet. One, it's pretty and I always hate starting to write in a pretty book..haha. But also, I'm struggling a bit to know what to put in it, to be able to fill the pages. 

Around the house: Let's see we did have the guy out to talk to us about the excavating job and he and my husband laid out a plan. It will be a process, and it will be awhile before we can pour concrete, but once it's done it will be nice. 

I'm getting a lot of blueberries right now. So far I've gotten 2 1/2 gallon bags full from two pickings. Usually as they ripen I go out every day and pick a big bowl full. My tomatoes are doing terrible and that's so frustrating. I've heard of others though who are having trouble with their tomatoes, so maybe it's just a bad year here.  

We also had our barn door in our bathroom installed. We had a friend of ours make it for us. We love it. 

What we're reading or wanting to read:  I finished our book club book on Wednesday and we met on Friday to discuss it. The Echo of Old Books was the the BC read, and it was good. I had a hard time getting into it, but after the halfway point it was better. There were some things I felt were missing from it, but overall it was good. I also finished The Lonely Hearts Book Club  which was good too though I wanted the ending to be different. Ha! I just started a new one of my list of recommendations from friends. I think I have 6 or 7 left on that list, and sadly none of them are available on audiobook so I'm hoping I can get them all read by the end of December. The one I'm reading now is called The Charm School by Nelson DeMille. It might be a tough one. It's long, over 600 pages. It's about american POW's who were sent to the Soviet Union and basically forced to teach Soviet military to "think, talk, etc." like Americans. I'm only about 5% of the way into it. We'll see how that goes. I am 6 books ahead of schedule for my Goodreads challenge so that's great. 

What we're watching or listening to: Sadly I haven't listened to or watched much in the way of TV shows or podcasts, etc. Funny how I go in spurts. Hopefully this week I can listen to a few things. 

For the love of food: Last week I made a ground beef and cabbage stirfry and shrimp with cauliflower rice which are both really good and fairly easy. Yesterday we had company over and we did burgers, homemade fries, watermelon and corn on the cob. Yum. I love cutting potatoes into wedges, drizzling with oil, season salt, parsley, paprika, and parmesan cheese before baking. YUM. 

I made cupcakes for Indy's birthday and then on Thursday, Pepper and I made homemade hummus. She loves hummus. 

We had a college friend over for dinner and I made Greek chicken with flatbread which is always a hit. Find the recipe here. 

I also made a blueberry cobbler from Reluctant Entertainer. It was really good and had one step that I wasn't so sure about but it surprised me and worked. 

Favorite Quote: Last weeks theme for our #WQ, hosted by Marsha was Relaxing. Here is my full post. Below is one of my favorite quotes I found. 

Favorite Photo: 

It's always fun hanging out with the grandkids...tiring at times, for sure...do they try the patience..sure, but I wouldn't trade it. 

Random or not so random things:

Well, we thought the car issue with the mouse nest was taken care of, however, the next day when I drove I thought "man it smells like a wet dog". I had picked up my daughter from the airport and she noticed it too. She was driving the next day up to Seattle. Friday she called and told them about the smell. She scheduled an appointment for the following Tuesday. The technician could smell it but couldn't find it in the normal spot they were looking and had cleaned the previous week, so he looked in more locations with a camera. He sent her a video of what they found. What did they find? Another nest and a DEAD mouse (I think he said rodent). Uggh...they didn't find it the first time because it was in an area they weren't looking in. Thankfully they took care of it at no charge because the gal had already told her she wouldn't be charged. Let's hope they stay away. Several people recommended a variety of ways to deter them so maybe we'll try a few.

Last Sunday we celebrated our grandsons 5th birthday. We hosted it and the kids all had a lot of fun playing in the water. His other grandpa brought his shave ice machine so the kids all had that too. During the party, Pepper tripped and fell, smacking her head on the pole of our play set. Needless to say she got a nasty bruise. 

Wednesday was Indy's actual birthday so we made a list of places we wanted to go who offer "free" birthday treats. I took a pic at each place. He had fun. At first he wasn't convinced it was his birthday because we were "literally just staying home" he said. Haha! That kid is so fun to talk to. 

Last week we had the grandkids several days aside from my usual Wednesday. They are always so fun. Yesterday their mama had her coffee cart at a launch event for a bouncy house company so I took them up there to play on the bouncy house. They loved it. 

At work, we had a fun week while the boss and our other main co-worker were gone. Their family's are friends and they end up taking the same week off each year, which has always left just me and one other gal working. So we declared that week party week...we dress up, decorate and just have fun. We have two newer, very part time employees helping so they participated. It was so funny seeing the looks on peoples faces..they weren't quite sure what to think! 

I also bought a new puzzle at the thrift store I frequent when I babysit..they always seem to have the best puzzles. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin