HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Here we are at another Monday and at the end of March already.  2015 is 1/4 over already – where does the time go?  Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
TODAY
A little foggy and partly cloudy, but with an afternoon of sun.

WEEK
By Tuesday we’re supposed to drop 20 degrees and get rain.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Digging out the warm weather clothes (just in case)
  • Laundry
  • Spring Cleaning

CURRENTLY READING

  • Give a Little (Summerhill #7) by Kate Perry
  • Where the Heart is (Ribbon Ridge) by Darcy Burke

TELEVISION/DVR

  • NCIS 
  • NCIS Los Angeles
  • Castle
  • Dancing with the Stars

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
I’m re-working a decorative birdhouse for my mom that was recently found to house thousands of wasps. It had completely faded to a gray.  I blocked the hole so no more wasps can take up residence and then added a little fresh color.

I tried an interesting egg color kit called 24K Eggs by RJ Rabbit.  They had a beautiful picture on the front that made the eggs appear to be a deep gold leafed color. After 2 coats of the “gold leaf” mixture and only a thin opaque layer I decided to get creative.  There wasn’t enough “gold leaf” provided in the package to actually have coated 12 eggs so I put on some rubber gloves and started mixing and matching by hand the “gold leaf” with the 3  basic colors (yellow, red and blue) provided and ended up with some pretty eggs at least.  The kit though was an epic fail if you solely follow their directions.

Tried to polish the brass porch lights, but the brass is too far gone,  so went with a matching paint job to the house trim.

With all the winter rain, the slope of the yard and the spongy soil the blocks around the front yard planter always sink each year.  I spent a few hours leveling the blocks and ridding the area of moss and weeds before adding a spring touch.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

BREAKFAST
DINNER
DESSERT
MONDAY
Cereal and Fruit
TUESDAY
Bagel & cream cheese
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
WEDNESDAY
Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
THURSDAY
Scrambled Eggs with cheese & Toast
FRIDAY
Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Easter Ham and all the trimmings

RECENT SUCCESSFUL RECIPES

RECIPE FAILS or DISLIKES

  • Lemon Souffle Pancakes – Flavor was great, but just not worth the work.
  • Couch Potato Bars – Hubs likes it, but honestly it didn’t have enough flavor for all the work.  I much prefer my Chunky Monkeys.

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY AT A LATER DATE

  • Pumpkin Empanadas
  • Strawberry Coconut Cake 
  • Pumpkin Brulee’ Tart

HOMEMAKING TIP

 A few definitions this week to help clarify:

  • BASTE – Using the drippings to coat the food as it bakes to keep it moist.
  • BEAT – Whisk briskly and vigorously with a beater until mixture is stiff.
  • BLEND – Mashing or mixing 2 or more ingredients together until blended well.
  • BRAISE – Simmering seared meat in a covered dish with only a small amount of moisture.
  • DREDGE – To coat thoroughly with flour.
  • FOLD – Add delicate ingredients gently with a spoon or spatula to a thicker mixture.
  • FRICASSEE – Cooking meat by stewing in a gravy.
  • MINCE – Chopping ingredients very fine.
  • SAUTE’ – Frying in a small amount of fat.
  • SIMMER – cooking over VERY low heat.

ON MY MIND LATELY
Why are we so able to accept computers and/or automation to run our lives?  When did it become acceptable to ignore the needs of people because some script on a computer dictates the flow chart of a conversation?

You can’t call a doctor’s office, store, or business for the most part without first encountering an automated menu.  Many times these menus do not even have the option you need on it.  It allows you to ask for a human, but first you MUST answer their questions and if you don’t answer them correctly 9 times out of 10 the person you do reach will need to transfer you to someone else.  And don’t even get me started on having to press 1 or 2 for English.

Long story short I want to thank Sade’ for being a human that still cares and went the extra mile to help me fix a serious issue for my step dad.  It took me 2 calls and an hour and a half to get to her and then another half hour working with her, but she personified the attitude we should ALL have to help others in need.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
I finally wrote my post about the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the Pacific this past week and as I edited pictures to post I have to say this was my favorite not only for the week, but I think for the year.

INSPIRATION

Carrie B.

I love how your "springing" up your house – that landscaping looks really pretty and I LOVE the white on your lantern!!

So many yummy sounding recipes again! And I love your clarification of the terms. Very helpful!

LOVE that photo – too cool!!!

Happy week Hon! xo