What makes me happy

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Christmas in July 2026 - Welcome

JUNE 30 – Welcome to Christmas in July 2026

This year's theme will be A Gentle Christmas in July - Preparing Slowly for Christmas in December

Every year, I tell myself I want Christmas to feel calmer.

I want more time to enjoy it, less rushing, and fewer last-minute decisions. But somehow December always arrives faster than expected, and all the things I hoped to do end up feeling squeezed into a few short weeks.

So this year, I decided to start earlier.

Not to celebrate Christmas in July, but to prepare for it slowly and intentionally while there’s still time.

From July 1st to July 25th, I’ll be sharing a series of daily blog posts focused on gentle Christmas preparation. Nothing overwhelming or unrealistic, just small ideas that can help make the holiday season feel a little calmer later on.

Each week will focus on a different theme.

The first week will be about creating a calm atmosphere and easing into the season slowly.

The second week will focus on kitchen planning, simple recipes, and preparing ahead where possible.

The third week will be centered around handmade projects, gift ideas, wrapping, and practical preparation.

And the final week will focus on traditions, quiet routines, meaningful moments, and simplifying Christmas in a way that feels realistic.

There will also be simple Friday movie nights along the way because preparing for Christmas should still feel enjoyable.

The goal isn’t to create a perfect holiday season. It’s just to start earlier, move slower, and hopefully enjoy December a little more when it arrives.

I’m really glad you’re here.

Monday, 29 June 2026

Happy Homemaker 2026-06-29

Goodmorning - still on vacation, start back at work Thursday July 2

Have done errands, got new crown from dentist, ordered online, chores around the house and just relaxed. Rained on/ off most everyday. 1 1/2 hr telework done throughout the week.

Picked up dd's kids Thursday for supper and dropped them off Sunday. pheww.... Friday also had ds' kids so all 4 of them could play together (2 - 6,5 years old and 2 - 5 years old), yikes! I am sooooo tired. DS picked his up for supper Friday night. Saturday was xavier's baseball game at noon, so made sandwiches for the lot as well as ds' family and sis and bil who joined us there. Rained most of the game so ate our lunch in the basement of the very small chalet there. Afterwards sis and bil visited ds' new house and then all came here (except for ds and ddil as she said it was a date night for them ). 4 grandkids + sis and bil slept here.

While here bil got a call from police they had found his uncle dead in his house (neighbor was worried). Uncle has no children and 3 people as reference... the other 2 (other side of family) did not respond (learned later one was getting married and other was at his wedding). Sis says his papers are a mess it will be complicated. So sis left early on Sunday morning. We drove last 2 grandkids home for supper Sunday.. phew! now I need some rest.

SIL sent me my bday gift a beautiful frame 7,5 by 3,5 feet, yikes! DH wasn't sure about it but we found a place... except the wall is green and would look better with white or beige... so more work for him. when it is up I'll put a picture. don't know how long it will take thought.

Today is picking up around the house + 1/2 hour of telework.

My Christmas in July posts will be starting this week July 1st for those interested in following.

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

Weather this week

Mon

28°

16°

Tue

28°

18°

Wed

29°

19°

Thu

30°

21°

Fri

29°

19°

Will be a hot one!

Looking around the house

Yikes!

Thinking and pondering

Thinking of sis who was discouraged... she's still doing paperwork for dad and mom and now add the uncle on top of that (for now as they have no idea who is in charge of his paperwork... bil had gone with him to redo testament a few months back but uncle kept changing things so who knows?) She has alot on her shoulders right now.

TV this week

Vivre en forêt
Construire demain
A few movies I have recorded over the weekend
2 Tapons au Japon

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Florent - Marie Laberge, rereading the series.

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

No time for anything except taking care of the 4 grandkids

Monday

Post here - DONE
45 minutes telework (longer than I thought)
Vac main floor
Dust main floor
Wash main bathroom
Laundry, laundry, laundry, laundry
DH mopped high-traffic areas
Swipe walls were little hands touched
.... Basement will get done another day

Decluttering

2 bar stools (from ds sold on Marketplace was in our garage)
1 wheelbarrel - was from fil and given to bil
2 underwear
1 of dd's painting given to Anne-E - she wanted the ballet slippers for her room
1 princess dress that Anne-E wanted to take home

Simple pleasure

Doing my Christmas crafting

Upcoming this week

Tuesday - electrolyst appointment at 6:30

Wednesday - National Holiday - Canada Day - nothing planned

From the camera

Happy 61st bday to me

Web picture of the week

It's that time of year now

Monday, 22 June 2026

Happy Homemaker 2026-06-22

Goodmorning - vacation for this week and back to work July 2nd (1 provincial and 1 national holiday in there - 24th and 1st)

Routine telework week, evaluation (good) and dinner with cw's paid by boss (once a year).

Saturday was a few housechores but just tired. Saturday night was supper with dh's cousin and his wife at a very nice restaurant - was good. Went to bed aroudn midnight yikes! was still awake by 6:00 am.

Sunday I did a few housechores and worked on some Christmas crafts. Supper was at ds' house - homemade pizza.

Today is a little telework (1/2 an hour just to check if emergencies), folding towels, a little more crafting and this afternoon is errands followed by Xavier's baseball game in town.

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

Weather this week

Mon

23°

15°

Tue

23°

13°

Wed

21°

14°

Thu

22°

15°

Fri

20°

14°

what a vacation week!

Looking around the house

all is ok but the basement needs to be decluttered, will try to get to that this summer, or else it'll be my 1st big retirement job next year.

Thinking and pondering

We are to have dd's children from Thursday evening until Sunday afternoon for the 1st time. Hope all will go well.

Some family things.

TV this week

Vivre en forêt
Construire demain
A few movies I have recorded over the weekend

Interesting blog I saw this week

Nothing

On my reading pile

Florent - Marie Laberge, rereading the series.

On my to-do list

Over the weekend

Vac main floor
Wash main bathroom
Laundry
Cut out more felt forms for the Christmas ornament I am making for friends (will make 32 in all)
Bake macaroni with sphaghetti sauce and also a tortellini dish. Froze the macaroni one.
Get cobwebs out of gazebo and rewash furniture

Monday

Fold towels
Post here - DONE
1/2 telework
Errands
Xavier's baseball game

Decluttering

Sold on marketplace for ds (was in our garage)

1 outdoor patio set (2 chairs + 1 table)
1 twin bed

Simple pleasure

Doing my Christmas craftin

Upcoming this week

Monday - Xavier's baseball game

Tuesday - Dentist appointment (put in a new crown)... $$$

Wednesday - Provincial holiday, if no rain will go see activies in neighboring town

Thursday - Pick up dd's children for next few days

Friday - My birthday

Saturday - Having all 4 children for the night as ddil says she wants a 'date' night

From the camera

Nothing

Web picture of the week

Monday, 15 June 2026

Happy Homemaker 2026-06-15

Goodmorning

Last weekend was my mother's funeral, all went well. Took Friday off work as viewing was Friday 7 pm to 9pm and Saturday 11 to 3pm followed by a ceremony. Lots of people. Had family who lived out of town staying with my sister and brother. After ceremony we had 83 people in all for supper which was held outside at parent's house (we had rented table and chairs and a bathroom - since we now have a renter and we didn't want to go in the house). All went well, temps cooperated and mosquitos only came out as we were leaving. Got home Sunday around 5:30 pm... very tired.

Just want some routine this week.

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

Weather this week

Mon

22°

13°

Tue

22°

12°

Wed

24°

14°