Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Breaking Up

Dear Diary
I have made it to the last day of this 31 days.  It's not you.  It's me.  We need to take a break from each other. I am like that girl you can never break-up with though. I will probably be back to share because "sharing is CARING." However, this everyday sharing is going to STOP. This homemaker has a mediocre life to live.

Check out the ENTIRE series here - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker

I am linking up with Write31Days

What I Learned October

1. Do you know the difference between Flotsam and Jetsam? 
My husband I had a whole discussion about these two words.

Flotsam- wreckage from a ship found floating
Jetsam- goods cast overboard

These two words are also discussed in our County Reads Book - A Tale for the Time Being (my review)

2. The Beach is good for the Soul
We live relative close to the beach but we rarely go there.  We have been making more of an effort to go to the beach.  Just a few pics of our adventures.

Large Beach Fort made of driftwood

Bench made with Driftwood

3. I learned I could write A LOT.

I did some writing for an application for my son for services.  He taught me to use Google Documents. I finished my 31 Day series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker.  Lastly, I wrote a letter to the editor to support a candidate for mayor.  I have never felt moved to do that before.The letter was in response to a particularly nasty letter from a fellow veteran.  Below is my imperfect letter.

In a letter to the editor October 12, Jon Mutchler was unfairly characterized as unpatriotic. I am veteran and I don’t feel that serving your country has to happen on a battlefield. Nor do you need to be a police officer or first responder to understand the issues of public safety. I have been Jon’s neighbor for over 10 years and Jon is nothing but patriotic . By the nature of his profession, Jon has frequently responded to those on their worst day and in crisis. Jon Mutchler has served the Ferndale community as a Pastor for 30 years and recently as a City Council member for 6 years. Jon Mutchler has raised 7 kids in the community of Ferndale. He is serious about serving the community and has dedicated a lot of time and effort into making Ferndale a great place to live. Please elect Jon Mutchler the next mayor of Ferndale.

Liked this life hack - 8 Amazing Things Will Happen When You Write Everyday.

**** I am linking up with Chatting with the Sky "What I learned October"

Confessions of Mediocre Homemaker- Hunt and Feed Strategy

Dear Diary
Why does grocery store feel like an exotic culinary hunt?  I pretty sure my Mom never had to puzzle over white rice, quinoa, brown rice, jasmine rice.  There was no such thing as GLUTEN FREE. At our family dinner table there was simply take it or leave it.

Why does grocery store shopping feel a lot like some exotic hunting trip?  I am pretty sure my mother never had such variety when shopping in the 70's.   I become overwhelmed grocery shopping and I shop with a list.  To relieve some of the What is for Dinner pressure, I menu plan.  I love ideas from Pinterest.

I am lucky to have time to cook dinner every night. My go to is to keep things simple.  Someone suggested that I make list of all the beef, chicken, fish options that my family likes. I then purchase what protein is on sale and I know I can make these meals from my family approved list. I keep this at the front of my recipe binder.  It helps my mental meal planning block.

 

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker

I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Things I don't Understand

Dear Diary
There is so much I don't understand. But I really don't understand why people want to use fake bacon.  I saw this at Micheal's. 

Why use fake bacon if you can use real? One of our local donut places understands my need for real bacon.

Maple Bar with BACON

I call out you Turkey Bacon eaters.  If you have painted stripes on your bacon, that is not REAL!! Pork is where it is at.

Check out my whole series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - The Creative Beast aka Wild Hair

Dear Diary
I have a need in my daily life to be creative.  BUT most of my life is a repeatable predictable routine.  Sometimes I need to break out of the schedule but I only have a few stolen moments for it.  At first I wasn't at first a big fan of adult coloring.  See my Dear Diary - Adult Coloring, REALLY.   Now I have a bunch of unfinished coloring pages.  So, now I just have a finishing problem

BUT lately, I have been trying to teach myself to draw a decent pumpkin.  You won't believe the number of tutorials for drawing pumpkins. I still remember being at a Mother's Group and a Mom commenting that my pumpkin looked like a butt.  So 14 years later, I am trying to redeem myself - ha ha.

I especially like the Art For Kids Hub videos

He has just a pumpkin video as well.  I think my pumpkin turned out pretty good.

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Reading is my Jam

Dear Diary
Life at times just seems too much .  I like to escape into a book.  Everything is possible in a book. Reading is my main way of de-stressing.  In other words, reading is my jam. I am an equal opportunity reader.  I will read just about anything once.

I thought I would share a few picks for reading.

 The Orchard House- (full review)

Growing up were you intrigued by the book the Secret Garden?  Do you have complicated relationships?  Do you enjoy gardening?  Do you love to help the little people in your life explore the outdoors?  Well this book hits all of these sweet notes. Tara writes a moving memoir about her and her mom's garden in Seattle.  Her mom purchased a distressed property with an amazing overgrown garden.  Tara discusses how her relationships changes and how it relates to the garden that her mom and her are creating. (from my review)

This is my top read for this year. I also think this would make a great candidate for my county reading program - Whatcom Reads

I also have a few books I like to read over and over.  Here is where I profess my love for the Twilight series. I shamefully won't tell you how many times I have read the entire series.

Do you realize that the twilight book is 10 years old? For the anniversary Stephanie Meyers came out with a new edition Life and Death. In this new edition the vampire is female and it is a teenage boy.  I haven't read it but strangely I do want to read it.

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker 
I am linking up with Write31Days 

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - The Geek Forest

Dear Diary

How far in the Geek forest do you need to go into the forest to find a geocacher? The answer is not that far at all.  Geocachers are basically find Tupperware with multimillion dollar satellites.  It is a treasure hunt.

Hey, look at us in the middle of nowhere trying to find the golf ball with the log paper stuck into it. I cannot lie we are avid geocachers. Our geocaching name is twomanwreckingcrew. 

I recently decided there are a few more interesting people you might find in the geek forest and perhaps deeper in than the average geocacher.  

I put competitive shooters in this category.   I actually had lunch with a bunch of these folks and let me tell ya they are deep in the forest.  You can even identify them by their uniform. They have shooting shirts with their name on them. These people are all about the guns and the scores. If bullets were a food they would eat them.

Add to that people who fly model airplanes. They aren't in as deep as competitive shooters but they are fanatics about flying and landing their planes.

Know any others DEEP in the Geek Forest?

Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Last 31 Day Love Linky

Sharing is Caring.  Pretty Please check out some of the other Write31Day bloggers.  There is some undiscovered gold out there.

Things I wish You Would Stop Saying  I particularly love the one on Vomit -as in "We've Been Up all Night Vomiting.

Life in Lape Haven  Out of the Mouth of Babes 31 Day series- My Boys and the T-shirts  She shares these easy adorable t-shirt capes.

31 Days of Random Reflections on Raising and Homeschooling a Child with Special Needs - Lots of Good Stuff Here. I don't homeschool but I do have experience with Special Needs . I liked - We are all Someone Else's Worse

****Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Crafty

Dear Diary 
I am just not handy.  I try but I am more an idea(s) person.  I can hear my husband snorting right now.  He has been the creator of many of my wild ideas. I do think I am pretty crafty.  I love to make rag quilts.  My latest creation for a baby nicknamed Wild Bill. This is the first quilt I made with a re-purposed center block from a t-shirt.  It was a challenge.

Front

Ragged Back

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - IEP Weary

Dear Diary
The level of absolute DREAD I feel about attending this year's IEP (Individual Education Plan)for my son today is off the charts.  An IEP meeting for me is way worst than being called into the principal's office.  As a parent you are reminded of all the deficits (if you are not reminded daily) and none of the victories at these meetings. This is about the 14th one I have attended. Usually the people at the table want YOU the parent to do something.  They the school district doesn't want to spend an extra dime to help your student. Services are not awarded on need but knowing what to ask for. Not that there aren't good wonderful advocates in there with you in the meeting but in the end the buck stops with YOU(the parent). Because the deficits are your problem. Theoretically this could be the last one I attend ever for my child.  He is a high school senior. This is the ultimate double edge sword. The place that guaranteed him services will no longer will serve him after graduation and the responsibility will rely on the parents to find supports. THAT is damn scary.

I am weary and wary. Some kick butt prayers would be appreciated. Pray that I can be the best advocate for my son's needs that despite passing academically that he needs scaffolding/transition services to be successful in the adult world.  I will be there advocating my butt off for my son. 

Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker
****more about transitioning from high school
I linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker- I have slipped into the Seahawk Worm Hole

Dear Diary,
 I can't believe I am admitting this.  I am a 12.  You know a Seattle Seahawk fan.  (This season has been rough to be a Seahawks fan.) I know the players.  I wear blue on Blue Fridays.  I actually talked football with my girl friend. For gosh sakes, I am from Colorado.  Bronco fans are no joke. I even smack talked with my nephew who is a Bronco fan. I  made a Seahawks wreath.  The wreath is made out of dyed coffee filters. They play tonight - San Francisco . GO HAWKS!

I AM IN DEEP! Maybe it is the subliminal messages I am receiving as I drive around town.

I haven't gone as far as this commercial below.  
 

Diary of Mediocre Homemaker - Not My Best

*****This isn't the post I intended for today but it is, what it is.

Dear Diary
I wasn't at my best yesterday and maybe a couple days before that too.  I was trying to be my best but all kinds of things just kept getting in the way.  My less than best looked a lot like apathy, excuses, and hurt feelings. 

I actually wrote out the specific reasons I was not at my best but I deleted them.  They were just excuses. Sometimes life dumps on you.

My husband sent me this pic of a train not too long ago.  I feel like I am staring down the train.  I am vowing to be better today. I WILL DO BETTER . That train is not going to run me down.

I like this post - 10 Things to Remember When You Feel Lost and Alone. (No 7)

Have you ever had to admit you weren't your best?  

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
 I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Halloween Eyes

Dear Diary
I get these crazy ideas stuck in my head.  I decided I wanted scary eyes in my bush outside.  I found a cool idea via pinterest to use plastic pumpkins in a re-purposed manner. The original idea is from Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons. I love high impact ideas with little cost.  The pumpkins were a $1 a piece from Walmart.  I also purchased white spray paint.  The red and black acrylic paint I had on hand. I got led battery flashers to put in the eyes from the dollar store. As silly as it sounds, these pumpkin eyes make me happy.

Taping off bottom so the pumpkin can be spray painted white

 

Completed Eye

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up with Write31Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Every day is a Freak Show

Dear Diary
It has come to my attention that my life is a real freak show.  You never know what will show up in my street

Sumo Wrestlers, REALLY. Not to mention what was hanging out on my back fence.

Honeybucket behind my House

That was a real treat.  Nothing like waving too construction workers as they are leaving the loo.
The fact is my freak show extends to my shopping - prosthetic legs.

THEN there was all the cars we saw saran wrapped in parking lots.  My friends think I am a magnet for crazy.

Not to the mention the time I took my extended family to visit a special Honeypot.

Or you get excited about a toilet with a view.

WELCOME TO MY FREAK SHOW!!!!

Check out my entire series - Diary of Mediocre Homemaker
Check out what everyone is writing for October - Write 31 Days

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - More 31 Day Link Love

Dear Diary
I got to say these bloggers are rocking the Write 31 Days.  I am in awe.  I thought I would share 2 more categories of 31 Writing Challenge and who I am checking out. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears go into these posts. We have made it past the half way point!!! Yeah us!

Personal Endeavors
31Days of Embracing Blindness   Check out Shelby's story.
Yellowstone and Beyond - Trip Planning in 31 Days I am sucker for a travel blog post.

Inspiration and Faith
Faith Adventures: 31 Stories in October - Check out the Yurt Story
Letters to Weary Woman

***Check out my first 31 Day Linky Love
Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker - Where the Magic Happens

My Desk Area

Dear Diary
Some people have dirty minds.  It is true.  The magic of my blog happens right in my little old office. It's not that special.  I am currently using my husband's old desk complete with he complete collection of Stephen King.  Despite all this glorious Stephen King, I have never read any Stephen King.  I scare easily. I know I have a Stephen King book actually laying on the desk 11/22/63. I found it for my son. They plan on turning 11/22/63 into a movie I believe.

We turned a bookcase into a laptop desk area.  I love quotes so I have a couple in frames. Here is one of them below.  I am a big fan of Big Bang.

The flower art is by my nephew. The rock is from my husband.  It is just cool. The glass globe with shells and sand  is from Nonna.  

THIS is indeed where the magic of My View of the Honeypot happens. 

Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up to Write31Days
 

Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker- Halloween Decor/Scary Larry

Dear Diary 
I was shocked to find out that Scary Larry the Rat might not be a boy rat.  Either he is transgender or a girl.  My sister actually pointed this out to me.  So any questions of rat gender need to be sent to her.  
 

My Shelves to the left of my fireplace -complete with mice

For some odd reason, Halloween means rats/mice at my house. I think that is the only time rats/mice are appropriate. I enjoy putting out a bit of Halloween decor.

Happy Halloween from Scary Larry

 Check out my entire series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker
I am linking up with Write31Days