July Goals Post

For as busy as July was, I am happy with the progress I made toward my goals. (It was also, sooooo hot)

With school starting next week, we are in full prep mode at our house. Lucas went back to Missouri Military Academy on Saturday, and the rest of the kids are working on getting everything they need for high school and middle school.

Today was a fun morning because Daryl got his senior pictures taken! Can you even believe it? Ken Doll did them, and he always does an awesome job. Even just looking at the shots on his camera, I already know we're going to have some tough choices to make.

Daryl could have done five outfits, but he only wanted three. He could have gone to several different locations, but he chose two. You know what? The pictures are going to be totally him.

Senior year has officially begun!

Read 30 Books: 17/30

I finished two books in July, just under the wire finished my second book on the 31st at 8pm!

The first was The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, and it really hit on some themes I've been enjoying lately. First, it's historical fiction, set in the South during the Great Depression. Second, I've been drawn to stories featuring strong women.

When money is hard to come by, why not turn to the oldest profession in the world? This book tells what women will do to survive and provide for their families. At more than 600 pages, it's the reason I only finished two books this month, but I have no regrets. I would have happily read another 100 pages of these characters' stories.

The second book was The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. I thought it might be similar to my read from last month about banned books, but it turned out to be more of a story about feminism. Set in a suburban neighborhood in 1963, it follows four women as they discover the new roles and possibilities available to them during that time. It's not too heavy, and the friendships keep the pages turning. I recommend this one, too!

Run 620 Miles: 375/620

I ran 48 miles in July. It was one mile more than I ran in June. I'll take it. PS the weather is finally cooling down in the morning. Hallelujah! 

Grow My Savings by 60%

I am so close to this goal and it is only the end of July. If nothing unexpected comes up I might just complete this in August! 

UFOs (Unfinished Objects) to Be Completed, in No Particular Order

Nada so far! 

• Alpaca Quilt
• T-Shirt Quilt
• 2 photo books for Daryl and Alex
• 1 knit project from stash
• 1 stitched project from stash

So glad we got to take some inside the school!

I hope these kids appreciate the awesome building they get to call their High school! 

Went school shopping last weekend and tried out Krab Kings in KC, Mo

It was really good, we will eat there again! 

Shawnee County Fair 2026 And End of Summer Ball

To round out July, I worked my 15th Shawnee County Fair, and the day after that Daryl had two nights of baseball for the end of his season. The fair was fun and we got two days of cool rainy weather and two brutally hot days. I wish we could have split the difference but you get what you get at the end of July. 

It was my second year as the Shopping In Style superintendent and I'm not sure how long I have been helping with the Archery meet. We had more youth in both this year! The only thing that was weird is this is the first time I didn't have a 4-H'er at the fair. The boys did not enroll this year and that is ok, it was just weird. Mom came and helped, so some things don't change! It is probably her 14th fair. LOL 

Daryl's Topeka High team won the league tournament and the league outright. Both games had their exciting parts and Daryl got hit by a pitch in both. It's a rough way to up your On Base average. This team was fun to watch and they are talking about making a fall ball team and have their awards ceremony on Sunday. Way to Go D! 

Today was the first day of T-High marching band camp and Alex and his trumpet were at the school bright and early. I will have a reason to go to all of the Football games this year, and I will get to leave after halftime. LOL Can't wait to see the show! 

That's a wrap until fall ball!

My first time presenting the Foundation Scholarship winners!

Pancake Feed

First day of Marching Band Camp

Happy Birthday Alberto!

Monday was Alex's 14th birthday! Being a summer baby, he's only had one or two classroom celebrations, but he embraces having a summer birthday and often has a  swimming parties. He had one of those on Saturday at his dad's house, and since we were helping Grandma move over the weekend, we had a birthday dinner for him on Monday.

He got to pick the meal and his request was Cajun Chicken Alfredo. We haven't made that before but I think it turned out pretty good. And since I didn't get to make a fruit pizza for 4th of July, I made one for his birthday dessert. He loved it! 

I am so glad I got to spend the evening with him and it was so much fun to have Grandma there too. Happy Birthday Alberto, Al and Alex. You go by many names but you will always be my "fair" baby! 

Guess Who Is Back?!

This weekend marked the end of a month-long whirlwind of moving Grandma Rosie to Topeka!

A month ago, a house came up for sale on my old street in Topeka. We had been keeping an eye out for a little "Grandma cottage," and how awesome would it be if it was near the neighbors we had when Mom lived with me and the boys? Our Realtor, Diane Elliott, is the best! She got us in to see it and helped us secure the house just a day after we found it.

Fast forward to this weekend, when we hustled to Lakin to pack a U-Haul, then turned right around and hustled back to Topeka to unload it. It was hot, sweaty work, but we had to move quickly because it's County Fair week! It was either this weekend or wait until August, so we decided to just get it done.

Mom did such a great job boxing everything up that it ended up being one of the easiest moves I've ever been a part of. We couldn't have done it without the teenagers in Lakin who helped, Asa for helping in Topeka, and the Bergman kids, who pitched in on both ends!

We love having Mom close again, and she's loving having her own space once more.

Love you, Mom!

So glad Canyon has a shady yard for the load up on Saturday morning! 

A little welcome gift. I told mom the last person that lived here was named Rosie, she believed me for a whole minute! LOL

Going into her house for the first time!

Had to prove Asa can come to Topeka without a federal holiday being involved. LOL 

The table fits and Joseph is a fan, mostly that it felt better inside than it did outside! 

Dusting off the Sewing Machine!

It was really hot this weekend! I still got in a few super-slow runs (sorry, Aron!), but they were done by 9:00 a.m.

On Saturday, Jeff and I had a date night and went to Tap That Topeka. It was a lot of fun, and since we were already in the neighborhood, we finished the evening with dinner at Celtic Fox. I love events that get us out and about. It's so easy to stay home, but I'm always happy when we push ourselves to get out!

On Sunday afternoon, I went looking for a quick project. I had a dress set aside to take to the seamstress for hemming. I had thrifted it because I loved the colors, but it was way too long. I took a hard look at the fabric and construction of the dress. I don't usually alter clothes, but I decided I'd give it a try!

Two hours later (there was a lining that needed to be hemmed too!), I had fixed my dress. It was a win because I get to wear it sooner, and I probably saved about $25! I did have to knock the dust off my sewing machine, but it still works. I need to spend more time in my sewing room, sewing days are just hard to come by!

Before! Too much dress, not enough Candis. 

During 

What was not needed 

After! 

June Goal Post

Back in the swing of things after vacation, and that means Daryl is swinging bats again!

He had two games this week, and I was able to make it to his Wednesday game. I really wish they didn't start at 8:30 p.m., but his team is so fun to watch. They all play together during the high school season, so the vibes are always positive, and they're very supportive of one another.

I got to see a win on Wednesday, and I look forward to watching more games next week.

P.S. Between innings is a great chance to read my Kindle book! 

Read 30 Books: 15/30

I read three books this month, and while they were all very different, I enjoyed them all. The majority of my month (20 days) was spent with A Court of Wings & Fury by Sarah J Maass. It wasn't that I was slowly reading it, it had 700 pages and the book size did not make it easy to travel with it. The momentum of the first two books peaked in the third book of the series and it was a page turner. The big battle for the humans finally happened and it had some great surprises! It did leave at a more settled place than book one and two so I'm going to give the series a rest for a bit. 

My second book of the month The First Ladies by authors Benedict and Murray was my travel book and I read a quarter of it the same time I was reading my book that didn't travel well. It was a great historical fiction about the real friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Mcleod Bethune. It made me want to find a book about both women because they were a powerhouse and together what they accomplished for Black Americans is outstanding. Just them eating together was front page news and advanced the cause for Black Americans getting better treatment on the road to equal. I would recommend and this one is going on the shelf! 

My last book of the month was on my Kindle and I read in about three days on vacation because it was that good. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller was a fiction that centered on small southern town drama and the bigger issue of book bans. It has very serious moments and laugh out loud moments. Everyone in town gets in on the drama and I couldn't get enough of it. It was a quick read and also made me want to start reading some of the banned books featured in the town. Sooo good, it it wasn't on my Kindle it would definitely go on the shelf. 

Run 620 Miles: 327/620

I ran 47 miles in June. I was not ready for the Kansas heat, my mileage went down pretty quickly once we reached the 90s! While this month's total was on the low side for halfway for the year I'm pretty much on track. So I'll take it! 

Grow My Savings by 60%

Had a good month for June savings and I'm crossing my fingers my yearly savings goal will be complete in September! 

UFOs (Unfinished Objects) to Be Completed, in No Particular Order

While on vacation I did start a photo book for Alex's 6th grade year. LOL 

• Alpaca Quilt
• T-Shirt Quilt
• 2 photo books for Daryl and Alex
• 1 knit project from stash
• 1 stitched project from stash

Joseph and I out hunting Japanese beetles eating up the plants! We catch them then throw them in soapy water. 

He loves finding them and I love letting him!