Author: QuiltLady

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with RECIPES & MENUS week 44 of 2026 ~ BLOG 365.306

Be sure to join us at Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

GOOD MORNING friends! Can you believe we’re in November already?? I hate to be the one to tell you this, but we’re only 56 days until Christmas.

I hope your week was absolutely blessed with good weather and productivity. Mine was busy, as always of late, but at least we got an hour back yesterday LOL.

Saturday night’s Halloween party was my last co-chair BIG event for the Eagles. WHEW, glad that’s over! It could have gone A LOT better, but it also could have gone A LOT worse too. Attitudes still seem to be changing and not for the better so when my duties are done I will be donating my time to other causes. As my dad used to say, “You can’t teach common sense and you can’t have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.” Both sentiments apply here, but it’s more like too many people set in their ways of procrastinating and not open to new ideas or other ways of doing things efficiently. So, for now I’m just glad it’s over.

I’m the chair for the Christmas donations for children, but that is a JOY to do and very close to my heart.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

The weather here never quite lives up to the forecast and can literally change at the drop of a hat, so I tend to multi-layer this time of year with cozy flannels and fluffy socks.

11/2 Monday ~ 55° / 40° ~ Clouds followed by a brightening sky
11/3 Tuesday ~ 61° / 37° ~ Sun and areas of high clouds
11/4 Wednesday ~ 62° / 41° ~ Some sun, then turning cloudy
11/5 Thursday ~ 61° / 44° ~ Mostly cloudy
11/6 Friday ~ 62° / 41° ~ Mostly cloudy
11/7 Saturday ~ 61° / 46° ~ Intervals of clouds and sun
11/8 Sunday ~ 61° / 44° ~ Sun through high clouds

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, TRAVEL,  APPOINTMENTS, MENUS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a little ironing to do, but otherwise things are looking good.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Not much because we’re planning to go away for a few days after the craft fair and bazaar next weekend.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m finishing up my centerpieces, snowmen, wreaths and “bark” for the craft fair and bazaar on Saturday so it’s going to be a VERY busy week. It’s also that time of year when I crave some indoor creativity and these 2 painting classes caught my eye. I will be signing up this week for the snowman on the 14th and the covered bridge on the 29th. I’m hoping hubby will go with me for one or both 🙂
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY time to myself for honing creative juices… curling up in a cozy blanket with a book on a cool fall evening… simple meals… laughing with friends… date nights with hubby…

READING TIME

I’m reading THE BAKER and THE BODY, BLYTHE RIVER MYSTERIES #1 by Jesse Leigh Murray

“A poisoned landlord was just the beginning. If Maddie wants to survive, it’s going to take more than cupcakes and croissants.

Maddie Dixon, proprietress of the Blythe Spirit Bakeshop, is not interested in being a detective. Despite her love of mystery novels, and her penchant for solving them before the book ends, Maddie is content with her little bakery in her placid little hometown of Blythe River.

But when Maddie finds the resident landlord, Otto St. James, dead in his home, the victim of a vicious poisoning, she becomes mixed up in the mystery, setting out to find who killed Otto before they can strike again. When her bakery is targeted, however, Maddie finds that she’s in over her head, and she’s not going to be able to bake away her troubles.

Maddie is going to have to either solve the mystery of who killed Otto St. James, or be the murderer’s next victim.”

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

 11/2 MONDAY 11/3 TUESDAY 11/4 WEDNESDAY
11/5 THURSDAY
 11/6 FRIDAY 11/7 SATURDAY 11/8 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
BLACK EYED CHILI & CORNBREAD
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
CHICKEN with CAJUN CREAM SAUCE & FIESTA CORN SALAD
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
CHILI RUBBED RIBS & POTATO SALAD
ROOT BEER CHICKEN & GOLDEN BREAD PUDDING
DESSERT
 
11/9 MONDAY 11/10 TUESDAY 11/11 WEDNESDAY
11/12 THURSDAY
 11/13 FRIDAY 11/14 SATURDAY 11/15 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
TACO TUESDAY and then a short trip
OOT out of town
OOT out of town
OOT out of town
TUSCAN HERB CHICKEN & CHEESY BAKED POLENTA
PAD THAI CHICKEN
DESSERT
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

It always cracks me up how my girlfriend can literally stack 20+ pounds of frozen chicken jenga style in her crock pot when she’s getting ready for Taco Tuesday! She layers it all with all the seasonings and it cooks down into complete deliciousness!

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • ROASTED GREEN BEANS
  • MEMPHIS CHOPPED COLE SLAW
  • CPK COPY CAT SMASHED PEA & BARLEY SOUP

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

COOKING THURSDAY ~ DREAM SQUARES ~ BLOG 365.302B

DREAM SQUARES
I got this recipe out of an old, vintage church cookbook years ago. It was called Cherry Dream Squares, but I have found ANY fruit flavor works. You can even add some FRESH or frozen fruit.

1 BO pillsbury plus white cake mix (with pudding in the mix)
1 1⁄4 cups rolled oats
1⁄2 cup butter, softened
1 LARGE egg
21 ounce can pie filling
1⁄2 cup chopped nuts
1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar

  • Pre-heat oven to 350°.
  • Grease 13×9 pan.
  • Combine cake mix, 1 cup of the rolled oats and 6 tablespoons of the butter in a large bowl, mixing until crumbly.
  • Reserve 1 cup of the mixture for topping.
  • Add the egg to the remaining crumb mixture. Mix until well blended.
  • Press into greased pan.
  • Pour in pie filling and spread evenly to cover crust.

 

  • Add the reserved crumbs into the mixing bowl.
  • Add remaining 1/4 cup rolled oats and 2 tablespoons butter, nuts and brown sugar, mixing well.
  • Sprinkle evenly over pie filling.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes until golden brown.
  • Cool completely.

COOKING THURSDAY ~ SMOKED SAUSAGE SKILLET ~ BLOG 365.302A

SMOKED SAUSAGE SKILLET

1/4 cup avocado oil
1 smoked sausage, sliced diagonally
2-3 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup homemade beef or chicken broth
1/2 cup marinara
Prepared Rice or pasta
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese

  • Heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Add onion and sausage, cooking until onion is translucent and sausage is cooked through.
  • Add garlic, red pepper, marinara and broth. Simmer 10 minutes until vegetables are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  • Stir prepared rice or pasta into skillet, tossing to blend and coat well. Top with most of the cheese.
  • Serve immediately.
  • Scoop into pasta bowls and top with remaining shredded cheese of choice.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 43 of 2026 ~ BLOG 365.299

Be sure to join us at Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

And in the blink of an eye October is almost over! Don’t forget to change your clocks next weekend! And for those going out on Halloween, you might want to do it BEFORE you leave on Saturday night or you’ll be late for everything on Sunday 🙂 And for those that need to hear it Christmas is in 60 days. 

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

GOOD MORNING I hope you had a productive and happy week. Mine was super busy, but productive. A girlfriend and I went shopping for “craft parts” for our various projects that we’re making for the craft fair and bazaar. I helped another friend with her Costco shopping for her new business, helped hubby with a fence problem, cut out several large sections of wild blackberry behind the fence that backs up to the county highway because it was starting to overtake the fence and grow through it, did some outside projects and winterizing on the faucets and hoses before the rain began yesterday, cleaned out dresser drawers and hope chests… 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

The rain finally returned to the Pacific North West yesterday! We are forecasted to have rain all week with temperatures in the low 50’s during the day and some 30’s and 40’s at night. 

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, TRAVEL,  APPOINTMENTS, MENUS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING up to date other than what we wore yesterday…though this is the place for my new favorite funny
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS not too many this week, but I’ll do them when I go to town for my hair cut on Thursday and do the shopping for my girlfrien
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY comedy TV shows that make me laugh… completed projects… crafting with friends… fresh sheets and cozy blankets… 

READING TIME

I’m still working on the Alice Hoffman book at night.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

 😀 I started to do a 2 week menu calendar to make my life easier and it’s working! 🙂

 10/26 MONDAY 10/27 TUESDAY 10/28 WEDNESDAY
10/29 THURSDAY
 10/30 FRIDAY 10/31 SATURDAY 11/1 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
6 CHEESE GNOCCHI
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
HALLOWEEN PARTY
ONE PAN CHICKEN & NOODLES
DESSERT
 
11/2 MONDAY 11/3 TUESDAY 11/4 WEDNESDAY
11/5 THURSDAY
 11/6 FRIDAY 11/7 SATURDAY 11/8 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
ULTIMATE CHICKEN CASSEROLE
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CHICKEN with CAJUN CREAM SAUCE & FIESTA CORN SALAD
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
ROOT BEER CHICKEN and GOLDEN BREAD PUDDING
DESSERT
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I received the hay bale and scarecrows from my secret pal, and started on some fun crafts for the craft fair and bazaar on November 7th. And I love the Rochester one lane bridge near our house, especially during the fall season when the colors start changing.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • DREAM SQUARES
  • SMOKED SAUSAGE SKILLET

COOKING THURSDAY RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK