It's the last Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for What's Up Wednesday.
What We're Eating:
Sunday: We had the grandparents over to celebrate Evan's birthday- he requested stead, roasted potato and broccoli that I served with a salad and then he wanted a Heath Bar Cheesecake so that's what I made him.
Monday: Chicken & sundried tomato Orzo dish with salad.
Tuesday: Chicken fajita chili with cornbread
Wednesday: Pulled pork mac and cheese (a new recipe to us!) with salad.
Thursday: Chicken pot pie w/ flaky crust
Friday: Homemade pizzas with salad.
Saturday: Crockpot Turkey Tetrazzini (I use Momfessionals recipe but sub out leftover cooked turkey & Laughing Cow cheese wedges for the cream cheese block).
What I'm Reminiscing About: Evan turned 17 last week.... 17! How is my baby, my youngest, already 17?
What I'm Loving: Our homeschooling routine so far this year has been wonderful! We work on his schoolwork Monday- Wednesday then Thursday we hike with our hiking group and Friday Evan takes his college course. I feel like we're covering everything without having to work super long hours on his schooling and he's so independent this year.
What We've Been Up To: We started our month at Foxwoods watching Gabrielle Iglesias' Don't Worry Be Fluffy comedy tour show.
We hiked up to Castle Craig,
I've worked on lots of cards and scrapbook pages, read in the sun whenever I could, and we started hiking with our hiking group again.
Evan and I have been doing some hiking on our own too.
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| Pulaski park |
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| Mashamoquet |
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| bull hill overlook |
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| Thompson Dam |
We took Evan to Boston to see the 21 Pilots Clancy tour and had a fabulous time!
What I'm Dreading: My mom and step father sold their house and are moving down to North Carolina next week; I'm going to miss them!
We all helped them move their belongings into storage until they find a house down there.
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| The large storage unit (they have another small one with furniture) |
What I'm Working On: I've been slowly doing a bit of minor refreshening of some areas of the house. I bought a new bedding set, some new bathmats, and new curtains.
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| Next I want to paint the tub surround and our vanity gray too. |
What I'm Excited About: October means we'll be seeing Alec more. We have parent's weekend at his college plus he's coming home for two weekends to work since the cafe he works at tends to be very busy in the fall. We also have lots of fall college tours lined up for Evan.
What I'm Watching/Reading: The latest season of Only Murders in the Building-- so good! (Netflix), The Boys in the Boat, Kaos-- I love the Greek Gods and wanted to love this one but just thought it was weird (Netflix), That 90's Show (Netflix), The Perfect Couple (Netflix), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel-- I LOVED This one! (Prime), One Perfect Match-- felt just like a Hallmark movie without the Christmas aspect (Prime), Emily in Paris (season 4; Netflix),
So far I've managed to read 8 books this month-- though I do have 3 more started I'm not sure if I'll finish any of them within the next 5 days!
What I'm Listening to: I've started making a fall playlist on Spotify but much like finding fun and cozy fall reads compared to beach reads, I'm having a much harder time making a "fall" playlist than I did making a summer/beach playlist! Do you have favorite fall songs?
What I'm Wearing: Our weather has been all over the place so my outfits have been too. I'm wearing lots of layers that I tend to shed by mid-afternoon.
What I'm Doing This Weekend: Saturday we're touring a college with Evan and then Sunday we're talking about packing away all the patio/deck furniture.
What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month: We're celebrating my husband's birthday and we have plans to enjoy parents' weekend at Alec's college.
What Else is New: I think that just about covers it!
Linking up with: Spread the Kindness,
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So much good stuff! The youngest growing up hits the hardest... you are going to share that cheesecake recipe, right, lol? I like your outfits, especially the pink blouse. I hope your weather continues to cooperate for outdoor activities. Your hikes look so pretty!
ReplyDelete:) I followed these instructions for the cheesecake: https://aprincessandawarrior.blogspot.com/2011/12/heath-cheesecake.html
DeletePerfect transition outfits and I really need to try your chicken and orzo recipe- looks so good!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYes to getting out and reading in the sun! I'm glad your hiking group is going again, too. So much good stuff to look forward to and I am glad you are loving your routine.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThis was fun to read! You've been busy this month. I know you'll miss your parents! I know what it feels like to dread something and will be praying for you in the days to come. It'll be a big transition! I love that you've gotten into the swing of the new school year with Evan already; I'm sure you're treasuring these days with him!
ReplyDeleteWe sure have been nice and busy.
DeleteA fall playlist seems hard to me - I can only think of some Halloween songs!
ReplyDeleteYeah and I really don't like Halloween or it's music...
DeleteSounds like a great month! I forgot about Gabriel Iglesias. I think the first time I saw one of his stand up routines on tv I was crying I was laughing so hard!
ReplyDeleteThank you! In all honesty I didn't think he was nearly as funny this time around-- I mean it was still a great show but I definitely remember him being much funnier and happy. He seemed kind of sad and bitter at times this show.
DeleteI'm so glad that home school is going so well this year! That's sad about your mom and stepdad, though. I can't imagine being far away from my momma! Sounds like a good excuse to visit North Carolina, though!
ReplyDeleteMy sisters both moved to North Carolina several years ago so I'm getting used to seeing family a whole lot less. Plus my mom and step father do have plans to come back and stay in the campground each summer every summer so that should help with the goodbyes.
DeleteHappy birthday Evan. I love your cards.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Thank you!
DeleteWow, you've had quite a month! Lots of adventures. I love your cards, they are so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWhat a great meal for Evan's birthday, that cheesecake looks so good and I love the sound of that Chicken fajita chili, I can imagine it being so nice in the colder months.
ReplyDeleteYep, I thought exactly the same about my youngest a few weeks ago when she turned 17! Time flies when you are having fun.
Your hikes look fantastic, the scenery is just beautiful.
It really does fly by!
DeleteWhat a great month! That heathbar cheesecake looks amazing! So much beautiful scenery on your hikes! I love the cards you made!
ReplyDeleteJill - Doused in Pink
Thank you!
DeleteNow you have a reason to visit NC one of my favorite states!
ReplyDeleteBoth my sisters (and my aunt!) live there so we visit every couple of years.
DeleteI want new bedding in two of my guest rooms but the choices are overwhelming. You have some great hiking spots near you. We do as well, but sometimes summer is just too hot to do a lot of it. I love a fall hike. We've climbed at least a million stairs on this trip so definitely getting our exercise. Enjoy the rest of your week!
ReplyDeleteI do think summer is often too hot for hiking too but our weather has cooled off quickly here and it's been perfect for hiking.
DeleteOh my goodness! That cheesecake looks just divine! It looks like you've had a busy but great month, Joanne!
ReplyDeletewww.lovinglifemoore.com
Aw, thank you!
DeleteWHen you put together a post like this, don't you stop and think, what a great life I have?? I bet you feel so blessed.
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Jodie
Yep, I really do! I try so hard not to take that for granted either.
DeleteYou have such a busy life, Joanne! I'm always impressed how you keep track of it all. I keep thinking I want new bedding, but I have yet to find anything I really love.
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Aw, thank you!
DeleteIsn't Exotic Marigold wonderful? I do love it. And Boys in the Boat. You've had a full and busy week and it sounds like a pretty terrific one!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a wonderful movie and I kept wondering how I had never heard of it/watched it before!
DeleteThe palazzo pants you shared with me!! Girl, you look adorable in them. I bet they are so comfy. I go to the doctor on Wednesday and depending on what he says, I may need to get some of those so I have something to wear when it gets too chilly for my shorts.
ReplyDeleteThat Heath cheesecake looks divine. Is it a baked cheesecake recipe? I need a springform pan. Or maybe I don't...I need to not eat anything as divine as that cheesecake until I am moving more again.
Can't believe your baby is 17 either. You never age. You could be your sons older sister!!
I know you will miss your mom. Hope you will have lots of opportunities to make trips to see them. Safe travels to them as they move.
Hoping you get some good news at the doctor's!! That is a baked cheesecake recipe (I had to search pretty long and hard for a Heath cheesecake that wasn't a no-bake recipe). We do use a springform pan and even though the recipe didn't call for it I always cook our cheesecakes in a water bath as well to prevent cracking.
DeleteThe weather has been all of the place here in our part of Australia. We are in Spring and temperatures were in high 20s (celsius) and last night a cold change with rain came through (much needed) and the temperature plummeted enough for long sleeves and jackets today. I see that having family leave would be hard on you. Sigh. Our son's eldest son is about to be 17 in early October and his goal is to get his driver's licence on his birthday as he already is working as an apprentice plumber and has a vehicle ready to go. I am not quite ready for that...we cared for him as a baby in 2008 onwards! Lovely photos Joanne. Denyse #TeamWWWhimsy
ReplyDeleteWe need some rain too; we're hoping to get some today even if that means cancelling our hike. All our ponds and streams are nearly bone dry! It can be so hard when they start driving on their own; even though Evan's had his license for 6 months or so already he's just started driving himself to school on Fridays and I remembered how hard it was each time either one of his older brothers took off on their own the first few times too.
DeleteOh, I know you will miss your mom & stepdad. North Carolina is a beautiful place to visit, but it won't be the same. I hope you get some good neighbors!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteSo much goodness! I love those printed palazzo pants and happy birthday to your son. They grow up so fast!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you! I am loving those printed palazzo pants so much.
DeleteThat cheesecake looked amazing! Wow!! All of the food and meals looked so yummy. I like seeing your outfits and the weather has been all over the place here as well. It sounds like you have a lot of fun things ahead of you. I don't have a fall playlist but I like that idea. The concert and comedy show looked fun. I get nostalgic looking at old photos. Was that Sesame Place and Hershey Park?
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! Yes to both; we took the boys to both parks in one trip.
DeleteI love reading updates like this. Your homeschool routine sounds lovely honestly. Hiking on Thursdays sounds like a dream. I am sure you've had years it's been challenging but it sounds like you and your son have a good groove. The chicken risotto looks so tasty. Recipe? What did you think of the Perfect Couple? Read the book but I thought the show was just okay. I've been busy and my mind has been busy so maybe I just wasn't focused enough. Enjoy your hike today.
ReplyDeletebosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Thank you! If you click on the words "chicken & sundried tomato orzo" it will bring you to the recipe. I thought the Perfect Couple was pretty good; though I did end up Googling to see what the differences were between the show and the book since I really couldn't remember how the book ended but I knew it wasn't like the show!
DeleteHi Joanne - looks like a fabulous week you've had! I'm loving the look of those meals you've been cooking up and I'm totally jelly of those hiking tracks! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy ! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI am so glad that you enjoyed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel! I really thought it was sweet. And the cast!
ReplyDeleteYou look like you are having a great fall! Best of luck to your parents on the move!
The casting was perfect!
DeleteHappy Birthday to Evan. I hope that his collage tours go well. I swear that I was not remotely hungry before reading this post. Now I am positively drooling. Great food photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope the college tours go well too. It's the first time I've had to try and navigate through this process with just our homeschool transcript behind us!
DeleteAs always, you take the best food photos!!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteI'm always amazed at what you can fit into a month, Joanne. I love the nature photography and of course the food looks delicious. Thanks for sharing your September with us at #WBOYC? and have a great October. x
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteThat cheesecake looks AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteA few playlists I have saved that I feel give more "fall vibes" on Spotify are "...don't come back (there's also a logs & tree emoji haha)" by The Sandlot Vintage, "songs that taste like nature valley bars" by danielnunnelee, & "Foggy Appalachian Morning" by Lydia Claire
Thank you for the song/playlist suggestions!
DeleteHi Joanne, have a great October! Your September looked very busy and I know you'll miss having your mother nearby, but a new place to visit maybe?? Thanks for joining us for #WBOYC
ReplyDeleteThank you! It won't be a new place to visit but it will give me an added reason to visit (she's moving down near both my sisters!).
DeleteSo much to chat about here. Loved your hiking pics and your crafting. Thanks for sharing with us ... here's to October.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteThere is so much to comment on her, I don't even know where to start! I love all your outfits. You always look so nice (I am jealous).
ReplyDeleteThat's cool about your homeschooling year and hiking.
Love that you saw Gabriel Ingelasias (too lazy to scroll up and make sure I'm spelling his name right).
The pictures from Castle Craig are gorgeous!
I'm sorry your mom and stepdad are moving. My mom is originally from NC. I'm glad they didn't move before this hurricane!
That should say *on here* Sigh.
DeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteLuckily the area they are moving to wasn't affected by this past hurricane; both my sisters already live down there having moved individually over the past several years. The first year my sister moved down they had a huge hurricane hit them and they had to deal with flooding, road closures, etc. But they stayed! I guess no matter where you live natural disasters are always a threat.