Monday, November 24, 2025

It’s Monday and link up with Sarah and Holly day – to talk about our weekends.

If I were still teaching, I would be headed into a two day week before the holiday. Those short weeks often felt the longest! Also, I am not contributing to two meals like I normally would. We always went to Tom’s sister’s house on Thursday and my mom’s house on Friday and I always made 2-3 dishes for each. So, I am not trying to get through the last two days until break and I am not food shopping, which is actually kind of nice, but odd, of course!

This year we are eating at a state park buffet and the forecast looks to be super cold for the holiday.

I think I’ve decided I will do my own Thanksgiving-esque meal sometime over the weekend. Maybe all the foods will be on sale!

Friday was another gloomy day and Eddie Otis and I did our playground walk while the kids were inside learning.

I stayed home and did chores and then at 4:00 I met Erica at Grassa Gramma for their happy hour special at the bar.

It fit the vibe of the moody, gloomy weather.

I had the $7 happy hour old fashioned:

Italy is imprinted on the ice cube:

Before happy hour I had pre-ordered pizza for dinner for Tom, Mason, and I. Did you know you can do that? I went to bed around 9 and slept in until 7:15!

Saturday morning Tom took EO out of the house so I Swiffered, mopped, dusted, did laundry, and decided to go ahead and take down the fall decor, including the few Thanksgiving pieces. I got out the Christmas decor to assess. I ran to Paul’s Fruit Market to get a few things. Now that I think about it, I accomplished a lot between 9 and 11 Saturday morning!

We met our friends at the German American Club (where we went for the cooking lesson last week) for their Chriskindlmrkt or Christmas market. It’s pretty small and quaint, but still fun!

I got some Gluhwein and a mug to take home. It has the recipe on the back of the mug – it’s red wine with spices served hot.

It was fun to be outside and to visit with our friends. On the way home we stopped at a Nordic bakery, and it was so cute! Yup, we went to Germany and Norway all in one day.

We came home and it was time to cuddle and watch sports…

Yesterday morning I used my new mug for my coffee and enjoyed some…

Nordic bread!

I cleaned my closet and gathered my Chirstmas accessories. I have just enough. I don’t want to go overboard. I pulled out my Christmas clothing, too.

I went to the basement and sorted some of the Christmas decor and went to Target to get some new twinkle lights and just see what they had.

I like this (all of it is old):

But I’m not really happy with the mantel yet:

Tom and I went downtown to walk around and see some new businesses that I was curious about…

And then we stopped at an outdoor store for some new socks for Tom.

We came home and I read on the patio for a bit:

And then….

Raw meat alert

Can you take it?

Are you sure?

It was time to recreate the schnitzel!

Cheating:

I bought this special seasoning at the market; they used it on their schnitzel. It’s really fun to say “schnitzel” instead of a cuss word.

Anyway, I will let you know know how it turned out later in the week!

Tell me a highlight of your weekend?

Amy

26 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. What a festive weekend! I think you are on to something with a Thanksgiving meal after the actual holiday-let us know how the prices are!

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  2. Your house is looking festive! I think we’ll decorate on Friday but I’m not sure. Hopefully I’ll have some help then. We had a pretty quiet weekend at home.

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    1. Yes it will. It’s kind of in flux on Tom’s side, too. His parents can’t travel anymore and they also can’t host.
      Yes! They have some great drink deals!
      No, it’s supposed to be Wednesday – the day before Thanksgiving.

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  4. The decor of that bar- WOW! That is a choice… I love the European influence in your town, especially the German one. Cincinnati and Columbus both have German buildings and restaurants but Dayton doesn´t really. The best and closest thing I´ve got is Aldi, lol!! It looks like a really nice weekend! Have a great Monday!

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    1. They spent millions making the interior look like Italy and I love going in there. It’s in a shopping center near my house. I love the vibe. Mason worked there for one summer. Cincy puts us to shame with the German influence. You too!

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  5. What a fun weekend! I love that you may cook some Thanksgiving-esque dishes over the weekend. I think your holiday sounds like it will be perfect for all of you this year with all the change. I know you are so grateful to not be working this year; I remember all the drama that came with your job, and how sweet to be off the week of a major holiday. I feel the same…I’m grateful to be off this week! You just reminded me to go buy some Christmas earrings for next week. Thank you!!

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    1. Thank you! I think I would enjoy that. I don’t know about perfect but I’m trying to put on my big girl pants. So much drama but also so much love. I miss the kids. Yes, one pair of fun earrings will be appreciated by your students!

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  6. This year sounds so different for you compared to other years. Sending love and hugs.That theme of that bar is interesting and I love the ice cubes!How lovely to visit the Christmas market! You can’t beat a bit of Gluhwein! That is great you got a mug, I had mine on Friday out of a paper cup! ugh!It sounds like a fun weekend. Have a wonderful week and Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thank you! I will try to put on my big girl pants. I went to Italy, Germany, and Norway (or the Scandinavian countries) this weekend. I didn’t even need a plane ticket!
      Yeah, for a hot drink a mug is better for sure.
      You too!

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  7. Our oldest daughter and son-in-law were here for Saturday night Fresno State football game and spent the night at our house. They normally stay with our other daughter and her new husband, but they had plans and it was hard to coordinate so I was thrilled that they spent one night with us! I cleaned out a few junk drawers and a few cabinets. I am slowly trying to make my way through the house again. It’s amazing when you don’t constantly keep up on clutter… How much clutter comes back into your life! Happy Monday!

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    1. That’s wonderful! I know – it really gets cluttered quickly and you have to stay on top of it. I am still going through my mom’s things, too. I’m not very motivated.

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      1. I have a device đŸ˜ƒ. Considering, I’d love to try the traditional German method with the cutting board sometime.

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  10. It looks like a fun, festive, multicultural weekend! I’m interest to see if the Schnitzel turns out. Is that veal? Hope you have a good week. I bet it’s great not to teach those LONG two days!

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  11. isn’t it so nice not having to think about school this year? Sounds like a full weekend- love those press on nails you pulled out! Gotta start researching German food since that will be our big trip this year – let me know what I should try first!

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  12. Yes, those short weeks were always long, but my school corporation didn’t take Wednesday off until after I retired. I’m hoping to make it to Carmel’s Kristkindlmart this year, but I don’t know for sure. I keep thinking about what to do with my Christmas decorations. I made the dumb mistake of buying this gigantic tree two years ago. I didn’t realize not only would it be tall; it would be wide! I really don’t know if I’m ever going to use it again. I’ve been thinking of donating it to our church, but then we’d have to make Chrismons and that takes forever. We had a very lazy weekend and did a photo shoot for the blog, and that was it.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. I know – my first half of my career we had a 3 day week! How hard was that if you were cooking? You should donate or sell it on Facebook Marketplace. It doesn’t seem like it’s working for you. I love my tall skinny “pencil” tree from Michael’s for my small space.

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  13. So many fabulous festive drinks! I have The Merry Matchmaker downloaded on my Kindle. I always like the two days before Thanksgiving at school just because expectations for all are low and attendance is spotty đŸ¤£Monday – all students seemed to be there but Tuesday, I had many absent.

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