Happy Hoemaker 2026-07-27

Happy Tuesday! 

Am very late in posting but just got home at 5:00 pm Monday night after a weekend away at sis' house.

I worked a few hours telework during the week but mostly was a quiet vacation week.  We did go to the Pier one day to sit for awhile.  SIL fell on her face while going in her house and is quite scratched.  Other sil got more results and will have chemio, radiotherapy and operation all of that will start soon.

Friday was town celebration of Christmas in July, dh spent day there as volunteer to help decorate and set it all up.  I had gotten all our Christmas hats out as well as a snowman homemade-costume (for Xavier) and some red tutus for me and Anne-E.  DH and I also had Christmas sweaters on.  It was very nice, lots of games for the children, free hot-dogs and finished off with outside cinema presentation of Christmas vacation.  DS (had put on his Christmas shirt and elf hat) and 2 grandkids joined the 'Family Category' for Christmas disguise and won a 75$ gift card at local grocery store.  Not many people came for the celebrations though and that was a bit sad because alot of work was put in that activity.  I fell and twisted my ankle at the end of evening and spent the weekend with a swollen ankle but it didn't hurt that much so all was fine.

Saturday went to sis' house for the weekend.  A very HOT, HOT weekend.  Took a small ferry with sis and bil and walked through the streets of Old Montreal on Saturday afternoon and got some ice cream in the evening.

Sunday did errands with sis in the morning and sat outside in the shade chatting in the afternoon.  Brothers and their family came by in the afternoon and for supper.  Had a very nice time with all of them.  Nephew got picked by a hockey academy and will be going to Michigan next school year.  He is 16.  

Monday 1 brother and nephew came for breakfast with us at sis'.  A cousin and his wife also joined us for lunch at sis.  We left not long afterwards and got back home at 5:00 pm.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom 

Weather this week

Looking around the house

All is to be done in regular housechores and we were away all weekend.

Thinking and pondering

Hoping for another quiet week of vacations.  Need to fix my date for retirement.

TV this week

• Vivre en forêt
• Construire demain
• Christmas movies
• 2 Tapons au Japon
• Big brother
• Rewatching the old Dexter series

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

The seven sisters book 2 - Lucinda Riley

On my to-do list

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Make a to-do list of regular housechores and activities for my last vacation week, will follow the temperatures with the inside and outside to-do's

Decluttering

• 8 elves (from mom's) given to town for CIJ celebration
• Shredded papers in my nightstand

Simple pleasure

Being back home

Upcoming this week

Maybe cinema with grandkids to go see ToyStory 5,  go see some family friends? we'll see going with the flow

From the camera

Family

Christmas store

Haggen Dasz on a hot summer day

Brothers and sisters

DS, DDIL and grandkids at CIJ

Reading at the Pier

Web picture of the week

Nothing this week

Christmas in July 2026 - day 25 Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas in July day 25 — A Slower Christmas Season

The goal of this series was never to prepare perfectly.

It was simply to begin earlier, move slower, and hopefully make December feel calmer and more enjoyable.

Even if you only use a few ideas from this series, that’s enough.

Christmas doesn’t need to be bigger to feel meaningful.

Sometimes slower is better.

Merry Christmas in July!

Christmas in July 2026 - day 24

 

Christmas in July day 24 — Movie Night #4

A Charlie Brown Christmas – 1965

This feels like the perfect movie to end the series with.

It’s simple, nostalgic, and centered around the idea that Christmas doesn’t need to be perfect or complicated to matter.

Appetizer idea: Classic buttered popcorn.

Mocktail: Vanilla milk, warm or iced.

Christmas in July 2026 - day 23

 

Christmas in July day 23 — Writing Down Christmas Memories

Today could be a good reminder to document things during the season later on.

Photos are wonderful, but writing things down can be just as meaningful.

Small moments are usually the ones we forget first.

Christmas in July 2026 - day 22

 

Christmas in July day 22 — Preparing a Simple Christmas Morning

Christmas morning doesn’t have to be elaborate to feel special.

Simple breakfasts, soft music, candles, and a calm atmosphere are often remembered more than big plans.

Christmas in July 2026 - day 21

 

Christmas in July day 21 — Creating Quiet Moments During the Holidays

One thing that often disappears during Christmas is quiet time.

This year, it might help to intentionally plan small calm moments into the season.

A quiet morning, coffee before everyone wakes up, reading by the tree — simple things like that matter.

Happy Homemaker 2026-07-20

Goodmorning 

Regular telework week with Tuesday in town.  so now I'm on vacation and only go back August 5th woohoo.  Nothing planned, will take the days as they come.  

Friday grandkids arrived before lunch (parents went on a trek and restaurant).  After lunch they went to the park with granpa all afternoon while I worked.  After supper some of their friends came to play with them for awhile until we left for the music festival in next town.  Xavier fell asleep on me.  Had a retired cw who showed up at festival and came to sit an chat with us.  They came by our house for a few minutes afterwards so she at least knows where I live.  Grandkids slept over.

Saturday was Xavier's baseball and that took up most of the morning.  Afterwards grandkids left with their parents.  DH made some potato pie in the afternoon but I didn't do much

Sunday was a quiet day.  DH put up track for big frame and bil came to hang up the frame in the evening.  Went to a small market in the afternoon, got some bread.  There was a place I thought was a thrift store but no it was a kind of barter shop.  you bring stuff and you leave with stuff without paying... you don't even need to bring anything you just take what you want.  Got Xavier a bicycle hat and a sweatshirt.  will bring stuff there next time instead of thrift shop.

Let's join Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom 

Weather this week

Mon

24°/14°

Tue

25°/17°

Wed

23°/15°

Thu

21°/14°

Fri

25°/16°

Looking around the house

Big frame is up in LR but now I feel like there is too much stuff in there, will have to put some decor items away.  Lots to be done everywhere,

Thinking and pondering

Meeting with sis next weekend for a few days together.  hoping brothers will be there too.

TV this week

• Vivre en forêt
• Construire demain
• Christmas movies
• 2 Tapons au Japon
• Big brother
• Rewatching the old Dexter series

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

The seven sisters book 2 - Lucinda Riley

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

• Laundry

Monday

• Post here - DONE
• Wash main bathroom
• Reserve parkings for August
• Going out to have a picnic at the Pier at noon.

Decluttering

• 1 sudoku book (finished)
• 2 kick scooters (grandchildren brought them to their house)

Simple pleasure

Simple days with no work pressure, traffic, parking.

Upcoming this week

Nothing planned - go with the flow

From the camera

Nothing

Web picture of the week

Christmas in July 2026 - day 20

 

WEEK 4 — Traditions & Meaning

Christmas in July day 20 — Thinking About Traditions

Not every tradition needs to continue forever.

Sometimes it helps to think about which traditions still feel meaningful and which ones just create stress.

You can keep what matters and let the rest go.