Category: HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 27 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Happy 4th of July! It’s Independence Day! I hope you have something FUN planned for today. I also hope everyone stays safe if you are doing fireworks!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful!! I have ZERO complaints 😀

I’m really trying to take just one day at a time! I’m really happy that I have no where to go today and nothing to do that I don’t want to 🙂 We’re just going to hang out, do a little grilling and minimal cooking to make the potato salad and apple crisp for dinner.

Breakfast is my normal hot water and yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get everything accomplished on Sunday so we can just relax and play today. 🙂
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have my mammogram and a pedicure tomorrow so will try to get most errands and shopping accomplished between these 2 appointments. When I’m in town like that I would normally get a mini snack quesadilla and ice tea at Del Taco but, sadly it burnt down a few days ago in the middle of the night. 🙁 It’s so hard for me to eat out for lunch and that was one thing that agreed with me. 🙁
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I finished my quarterly “LIST” update that I’ve been doing along with Jean – you can find it here. Despite this being a shorter week I’m bound and determined to finish a pile on my desk that’s been getting shuffled around when other things have come to the forefront.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m good through July despite some last minute changes, but am starting to work on August. I had been putting off working on August, but since we’re pushing our trip to September I need to start thinking more seriously about it.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We watched quite a few on this streaming channel this past week. Back Trace with Sylvester Stallone, The Man From Toronto with Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart, The Do-Over with Adam Sandler and David Spade, The Mist based on a Stephen King story and Coin Heist
  • PRIME Killer Joe – not a favorite 🙁 though I love Matthew McConaughey normally.
  • CABLE Tried to watch Taxi Driver as I had never seen it and deleted it pretty quickly – not my kind of movie! Cooking shows, NASCAR

I’ve really been liking this Australian author Phillipa Nefri Clark and have started her Charlotte Dean Mystery Series. I’m just finishing Book #1 Deadly start and will follow up with #2 Deadly Falls. There are 5 in the series that take place over a year in time. The series is a follow up to the River’s End series I just finished.

Hubby and I took a painting class last Saturday and it wasn’t as easy as it looked like it would be! THIS IS CERTAINLY A WORK IN PROGRESS!  Imagine an adirondack chair or two under the umbrella with a cooler and maybe a corona on top 😀 That was my original plan so we’re still a long ways off! I may start completely over and lose the clouds altogether!

AND A FUNNY 😀
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
GRILLED STEAKS, POTATO SALAD & APPLE HAND PIES
CHILI CHICKEN, POTATO SALAD AND MELON BALLS
STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC CHICKEN SALAD
PAPRIKA CHICKEN & SNAP PEA SALAD
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR OR YOUR ON YOUR OWN NIGHT
CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SALAD
BBQ PORK CHOPS, POTATO SALAD & MELON
DESSERT
 GRANNY’S APPLE CRISP
 

  • CORN SALSA SALAD
  • GARLIC BUTTER PARSLEY CHICKEN
  • WINE MARINATED FROZEN GRAPES
  • BUFFALO CHICKEN MUFFINS or MEATBALLS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 26 of 2022

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

I had a busy and productive weekend despite the heatwave that descended on us this past week. Yesterday I volunteered at the Eagles cooking and serving brunch for new members and brainstorming with a friend on some new recipe ideas. I also got some indoor chores accomplished.

I hate to be the bearer of this news, but we are officially at the midway mark for 2022 and Christmas is only 181 days from Christmas. Which also means we’re only 187 days from the new year, 2023.

We began a heatwave over the weekend and while it isn’t as horrible as so many others are experiencing everywhere else in the country and the world or as bad as the southern California desert when I was a kid, it did happen literally overnight for us! Last weekend I needed a jacket when we went to dinner with our niece and her boyfriend. We went from early spring type temperatures to summer temperatures hitting triple digits yesterday in literally just days. We’re slated for the low to mid 90’s with lots of sunshine yet today and then it will incrementally drop back into the 70’s by next weekend. At least there’s no humidity to speak of. 😀

Mt heart hurts. 🙁 I don’t normally get political in these posts. I’m all about personal space and people doing what is right for themselves.

Personally, I DO NOT believe in abortion, BUT it is NOT my place to decide what is right for anyone else and in what instance! You can be both PRO LIFE and PRO CHOICE. So I don’t think the government (federal or state) having the control to make that decision for them is a good thing either. It’s a personal choice between a woman, her family and her doctor – there are too many gray areas…. We do not live in other people’s lives or bodies. I have enough trouble making the right decisions for myself… As a woman I can see the potential for so many other issues that women have been fighting against for so many years…

But! No matter your religious, moral or ethical beliefs… This isn’t ONLY about abortion…

Government control over personal rights and how you act/react on YOUR PERSONAL religious, moral or ethical beliefs… The biggest point to be had in the events from this week is that this is only the beginning of an agenda and that it opens MANY, MANY doors… doors that COULD send us spiraling backwards in society on soooooooooo many levels.

Between the political upheaval, COVID, earthquakes, floods, massive heat waves, spiraling economy and inflation… I PRAY we see relief from all of these things, but more importantly that people wake up and realize that we are NOT in control here and need to act accordingly… As I said, my heart just hurts 🙁

You guessed it 😀 … Hot water and peach yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Finished the laundry over the ungodly hot weekend while staying indoors.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a small list for this week, but will work it in with a doctor appointment this afternoon. I also have a painting class Saturday afternoon and have convinced hubby to tag along and do a date night.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I need to update the quarterly follow-up for the yearly list I’m doing along with Jean to post on Friday. I’m finishing up a few pieces of correspondence that need followed up on also.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are done through July, but would like to find some fresh salads and new dressings/vinaigrettes for August.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Maze Runner – The Cure
  • DISNEY+ Doctor Strange Multiverse, FREE GUY with Ryan Reynolds
  • CABLE NASCAR races, Cooking Shows, The Haunting and a REALLY old black and white called Down Three Dark Streets with Broderick Crawford and HIGH SIERRA with Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino

I finished the River’s End series and am reading Last Known Contact by the same author. I’m really enjoying her.

There are many photos I could post here, but today is and always will be a tough day for me as it is the anniversary of my dad’s death. He was gone WAY TOO young and has been for WAY TOO long now 🙁 so instead I’m posting this old favorite of mine that was taking many years before I was even born.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
ENCHILADAS SUIZA
BBQ CHICKEN & CORN SALSA SLAW
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
 CHILI & CORNBREAD
CHICKEN COBB SALAD & TWISTY ROLLS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT

 
BUFFALO CHICKEN MEATBALLS & HOT SLAW
DESSERT
 
BROWNIES?

  • OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE with GRAVY
  • CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN THIGHS
  • BBQ MEATBALLS & BACON CHEDDAR BAKED POTATOES

  • TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER BAKE
  • GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN
  • SHEET PAN SWEET & SPICY BBQ CHICKEN
  • WINE MARINATED FROZEN GRAPES
  • TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 25 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week.

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

I am loving the weather we’ve been having (mid 50’s over the weekend), but hope to actually have some late spring weather (70’s and 80’s) this week. Weather.com says we will, but they have been saying that the past several weeks without materializing and then things change and we end up cloudy and much cooler than expected. So, I’ll believe it when I see it.

I’m trying to concentrate on finishing some long overdo projects, but things seem to keep popping up that delay the progress!

This is just a sad 🙁 category for me as it NEVER seems to be able to change 🙁 Hot water and cherry yogurt again this morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m as up to date as can be since laundry is a never ending thing… 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS No appointments per se this week, so will put together a small list and make a run to town one day later in the week.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a stack that I’m bound and determined to get through this week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned through the middle of July and then I’ll do a freezer inventory and plan for the next 6 weeks. Grocery costs have me streamlining many things.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We watched INTERCEPTOR which was pretty good and RED NOTICE which was super fun with DWAYNE JOHNSON and RYAN REYNOLDS. I can’t wait for sequels 2 & 3 which are already in the works. We also started SPIDERHEAD with CHRIS HEMSWORTH, but it was slow moving and we moved on… POWER OF THE DOG was just weird too so stopped about halfway through.
  • CABLE MASTERCHEF, ON THE ROAD WITH GUY FIERI, GREAT AMERICAN FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEAT BOBBY FLAY, GIRL MEETS FARM, AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, THE CHASE, NASCAR

I’m on the 4th in Phillipa Nefri Clark’s River’s End series, The Christmas Key.

The flowers are perking up a bit more with the roses finally making an appearance. We’ve still been having really cool weather – mind you I’m not complaining as I know most of the country would give anything for it – but things are just now blooming that should have bloomed months ago so the veggie garden will be iffier this year. I’m hoping this week is as warm as they say it will be and I think the flowering plants will really take off. Oh, and the color of these Calla Lillies – I’m in love!

And the kittens are still as adorable as can be! They make a Mosh Pit at night in one of the patio chairs – it’s so cute!

I had fun at the flag day class, but will probably do a few more touch ups.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
BBQ MEATBALLS & BACON CHEDDAR BAKED POTATOES
CHICKEN SCAMPI & SALAD
STUFFED SHELLS & TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN & SCALLOPED POTATOES
CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE and SALAD
DESSERT
COBBLER of some sort

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 24 of 2022

I love doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively. It helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week ahead, but it also gives me a sense of accomplishment and hope. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

We had a super rainy weekend so we missed the car show on Saturday that we had been planning on attending. They had already rescheduled it from last weekend and then this weekend was even worse. Only a about a dozen cars even showed up! The temperature has also dropped back down to the high 50’s. Unfortunately, it was also the city wide garage sale weekend. Hopefully, most people will be able to do next weekend instead so all their hard work preparing all year doesn’t go to waste.

I helped out on dinner service at the Eagles Friday night when someone failed to show up. I also spent quite a bit of time reading and working on cleaning out photo files. So for that reason 😀 BIG WARNING – today is a little photo heavy 😀

The rest of the week is supposed to be partly sunny, but still lower temperatures which is fine by me! I’m a BIG believer in the whole “a butterfly flaps its wings” theory which makes me think much of this is a result of the quadruple trip around the globe that the aftermath of the underwater volcano in Tonga took last January.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is up to date after the rainy weekend. I tried to get all the chores done while stuck inside in hopes of a better weather week and working outside a bit.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a painting class on Tuesday evening so will work my errands into the afternoon to avoid using more gas than necessary!!!!
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS As always have a few irons in the fire and waiting on some resolutions, and will end up having to write some letters regarding simple issues that aren’t being resolved internally because of inefficiency on the organizations part.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I just haven’t been feeling really adventurous lately 🙁

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We started watching the series Lincoln Lawyer and it’s pretty good, but I think I really enjoyed the movie more with Matthew McConaughey.
  • PRIME The Tender Bar was a really cute movie. We also finished watching season 1 of Night Sky with Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons. Hubby had never seen Conspiracy Theory with Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson so we rented that one rainy evening.
  • CABLE I’m ALMOST finished catching up with season finales from while we were gone. I also have several movies and cooking shows to catch up on.

I finished the StationMasters Cottage which was book 1 in the series. I actually enjoyed the Australian lean to the writing and have moved on to the Jasmine Sea, book 2 in the Rivers End series by Phillipa Nefri Clark.

Those of you who also follow me on Instagram know that I have a thing for #RailArt or #TrainGraffitti and that living in this small #LumberTown in the country where the train tracks actually run right through the middle of town affords me a multitude of those pictures a couple times a day 😀 I finally found one that is not only truly legible, but funny too!

Here are the 3 whole shots I got of the car show. You’ll also notice I got them through the window as we didn’t even get out because it started raining REALLY hard! I can’t believe how late all the flowers are blooming this year. The weather has been so very strange!!!!!!! Fortunately there was an almost sunny day where I was able to snap a few good pictures. The nasturiums are looking pretty good considering they like the warm sunny weather that we are NOT having. And the johnny jump ups as well as the oxalis (purple shamrocks) are loving being combined with the humming bird vine. Even the poppies and clematis are doing well without a ton of sunshine. I’m still most impressed with the calla lillies. I also loved this garden spider with his dinner.

Do you remember the feral cats that adopted us last winter? Well, they have had kittens. Adorable kittens! I’ve named them Callie, Soot, Sonny Jr. and mini Boots. I’m actively trying to find them homes. They are just so dang adorable! Callie was playing Whack-A-Mole with Soot and mini Boots as they hid in the cinder block and kept popping up and down. 😀 They are just so adorable that I cannot stop taking pictures hoping to catch doing something else cute.
MONDAY 6/13
TUESDAY 6/14
WEDNESDAY 6/15
THURSDAY 6/16
FRIDAY 6/17
SATURDAY 6/18
SUNDAY 6/19
DINNER
LIME CILANTRO SKILLET CHICKEN
Y.O.Y.O. you’re on your own I have a painting class
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS, CORN on the COB & MACARONI SALAD
OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE
PIZZA BOATS & SALAD
SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS
DESSERT
 
Yummy Lemon Blueberry Lush was REALLY good, but won’t hold up to up to the summer evening dinner for the EAGLES so now it will be cherry bars.
CHERRY BARS

  • CHERRY BARS
  • CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN
  • CAJUN RICE & PORK CHOPS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 23 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Good morning sweet friends. I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and have a stress free week ahead of you!

It’s going to be another one of those weird weeks of truly uncertain weather. This forecast has changed a half dozen times since I first looked at it last night 😀 As always, Levis and a comfy 3/4 sleeve t shirt are winning the battle along with my most comfy POP’s 😀

Hot water, baby food squeeze and a banana

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Been working on a water leak problem with hubby and it’s leading to a few side projects 😀 The laundry is up to date though!!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an ophthalmologist appointment later this week which I know is going to be expensive because I also NEED new sunglasses this year.  
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I did accomplish 1 large project, but have a few others to finish this week though today is already shot and so is Thursday so I’m hoping Tuesday and Wednesday will be super productive!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I haven’t made much progress on the end of June, but will try and do that this week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • AMAZON We started a new series called Night Sky with Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons
  • NETFLIX The BIG Wheel – an old Mickey Rooney film
  • PRIME Days of Thunder with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman
  • CABLE Hatari! an old John Wayne movie, NASCAR, FEAR the Walking Dead, a bunch of cooking shows and I’m still working on catching up with my normal seasonal shows and the season finales as well as a couple Hallmark movies.

I’m still reading The Stationmaster’s Cottage (#1 Rivers End) by Phillipa Nefri Clark – it’s a little deeper than the summer romances I was reading, but I REALLY like it and will seek out other titles by this “new to me” author.

I put it aside to keep working on Hopefully Matched #3 in an Alaska Matchmakers Romance series by Cathryn Brown.

Next up is A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean

My calla lillies are FINALLY blooming even if it’s months late!
MONDAY 6/6
TUESDAY 6/7
WEDNESDAY 6/8
THURSDAY 6/9
FRIDAY 6/10
SATURDAY 6/11
SUNDAY 6/12
DINNER
SOY MOLASSES SALMON & CHARRED CORN
PIZZA BOATS and SALAD
Y.O.Y.O. C.O.R.N. YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
STEAK CAMPFIRE PACKS & SALAD
GRILLED LEMONADE CHICKEN with RICE PILAF
SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS & SALAD
Y.O.Y.O. C.O.R.N. YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
DESSERT
LEMON BLUEBERRY LUSH
The Lemon Blueberry Lush is a work in progress for the Eagle’s Friday night dinner next week.

  • LEMON BLUEBERRY LUSH
  • CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 22 of 2022

I LOVE doing Happy Homemaker Monday extensively as it really helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Today may be a holiday, but I’m looking forward to getting back to a regular routine with this first week of June. I CANNOT believe this year is almost half over already! I am trying to get around to visit everyone, but GOOGLE keeps signing me out and lets me sign back in, but not stay signed in. On some of your pages it isn’t letting me comment at all, but know I’ve visited and wish you all well and hope you have a fantastic week!

This past weekend brought us a surprise WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY and some much needed rain, a little hail and even a short lived snow flurry! YEP, you read that right – the weather has been SOOOOOOOOOOO weird lately! A local lake campground that is normally full for this holiday weekend had to cancel half their reservations because of the snow we had 6 weeks ago didn’t melt in time for the holiday weekend. Our neighbors who went to a different campground (like they do every year) came home on Sunday morning because they were so miserable from the cold wet weather, and they were’ in a snug and warm trailer. 😀

Despite that, it looks like it will be a bit drab this week with overcast muggy weather, but NOT excessively warm which I do appreciate!

THERE ARE JUST NO WORDS for everything that is going on in our world 🙁 My thoughts and prayers go out to ALL who are suffering and experiencing loss 🙁

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING We never go anywhere over holiday weekends so have been home and am all caught up.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I went last Thursday before the holiday weekend so need very little his week, but will be making a run to Kohl’s (an hour and a half away) later in the week and take my mom shopping.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things that need to be finished up and mailed this week that will hopefully bring some closure to some long term things that were postponed by COVID.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through mid June, but I’m hoping to find some light and fun recipes for the end of June and July.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX In the Line of Duty
  • PRIME Being the Ricardos and The last 2 episodes of Outer Range – it was really strange and I’m sorry I wasted so much time on it.
  • SIL’S HOUSE We saw quite a few movies while we were at SIL’s house and I can’t begin to tell you what stations – the movie UP which was ADORABLE!, Midnight Run, FRAILTY, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Drinking Buddies which was sooooooooooooo dumb, The Last Time I Saw Paris and a couple other old black and white movies that for the life of me names have escaped me 😀
  • CABLE I need to get caught up on all the season finales that occurred while we were at the family reunion. We did watch all the NASCAR races and HATARI! over the rainy weekend. I also saw the last several BULL episodes of the series and caught up on children’s MasterChef.

The Stationmaster’s Cottage (#1 Rivers End)  by Phillipa Nefri Clark

I’m going to finish editing photos today, but here are a couple of favorites. Castle lake was so pretty and perfectly clear. This tree and it’s knothole called to me 😀 I can’t believe there was still so much snow in late May!
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
PAPRIKA RUBBED CHICKEN & MARINATED BEAN SALAD
BEEF TIPS & GRAVY over MASHED POTATOES
OUT
OVEN BAKED CHICKEN and RICE
CAJUN CHICKEN ALFREDO and SALAD
SKILLET CHICKEN con QUESO and SALAD
DESSERT
BUTTERMILK FUDGE BROWNIE CAKES

  • SAMOA CHEESECAKE
  • CRANBERRY APPLE SLAB PIE
  • MEXICAN STREET CORN CHOWDER
  • PAN SEARED CHICKEN with WALNUT CREAM SAUCE
  • RED CABBAGE SALAD with BAKED CHERRIES, APPLES & ALMOND DUKKAH

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 21 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

This will be super abbreviated today. We’re still traveling through tomorrow and getting an early start at parks, waterfall visits and hikes today. We stopped at a local store and picked up salami, cheese, crackers and fruit for a box lunch on the trail today.

It’s supposed to be gorgeous here today – mid 70’s and a light breeze. We were up at the 7,000 foot mark yesterday though and it was more breezy and quite chilly, so I’m layering in my comfiest Levi’s, a tank, a favorite lightweight flannel and hiking boots.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did most of the laundry from the trip at SIL’s house, but will have a week’s worth from the trip home along with the sheets and towels from before we left.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a pedicure on Thursday and will put together a grocery and errand list before I go.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things from before the trip that need to be handled this week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Your guess is as good as mine 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX ?? We did start the new Lincoln Lawyer series in the hotel last night and think we will like it.
  • PRIME ??
  • DISNEY+ ??
  • DISCOVERY + ??
  • CABLE Everything from the last 3 weeks on the DVR

I finished the girl from Channel Islands finally and need to move on to something much lighter so I began Mystic Falls, A Coyote Wells Mystery by Vickie McKeehan

Here’s where we were yesterday 😀 after we left Lassen Volcanic National park – More pictures to come later 😀
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
OUT
OUT
??
??
??
??
??
DESSERT
*

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 20 of 2022

Normally doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for the upcoming week, but this week will be abbreviated due to vacation time and enjoying the wonderful weather. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Here’s a little funny for you to think about while I finish my vacation:

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

I’m still reading (just been too tired to get very far at night) The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book.

We were a small group (about half) this year, but I still literally have thousands of images to edit, but here are a couple of favorites.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
SIL’S CHOICE
SIL’S CHOICE
SIL’S CHOICE
SIL’S CHOICE
?? ON THE ROAD
?? ON THE ROAD
?? ON THE ROAD
 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU PLANS week 19 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

It was cold an rainy when we left home last Thursday, beautiful when we arrived here on Friday and not bad on Saturday. It turned SUPER windy and cold yesterday and is supposed to be in the 50’s and windy until we head down to the family reunion on Wednesday where it will be glorious!

Traveling is really hard for me and I have had a couple reactions, but ALL and ALL I’m doing pretty well, but keeping it simple with so much eating out. I’m also quite concerned about staying safe and well while traveling with COVID cases on the rise again. I’m quite worried that the current surge seems to have mutated making the vaccines less efficient.

HOT water and strawberry yogurt with some FRESH cherries we picked up at a roadside stand yesterday.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING – NONE I’m on vacation 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Wednesday we will arrive in town for the family reunion and will do all our shopping for the weekend.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS – NONE I’m on vacation 😀
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING – NONE I’m on vacation 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • whatever SIL decides 😀

I’m reading The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book.

I’ll have to do a post later with pictures from our overall trip, but for now I’m enjoying being at SIL’s house enjoying the country 😀 Here are some of her frogs, frog pond, honey bees, garden, flowers

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHAMISAL tennis club with nephew and his wife
Leftovers from last night’s dinner at The Whaling Station on Cannery Row
somewhere in SOLVANG with a different nephew and his family
cafe at the resort
FAMILY STREET TACO NIGHT at FAMILY REUNION
FAMILY REUNION POTLUCK – we’re bringing a 7 salad platter and an antipasto platter
OUT on the way home
DESSERT
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES FOR THE TRIP

 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 18 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Welcome to another Monday as we begin May already! Can you believe how this year is flying by?! I hope everyone had a great week and did something incredibly spring like. We’ve been doing more walking when possible. I have a lot to get done this week so will jump right into today’s post.

We leave Thursday morning to go to my sister-in-law’s house for several days before we take her to the family reunion next week. So, I decided to check out the weather for here and there and am VERY happy with the sunshine we’re going to find at her house!! Despite the distance (600 miles away) temperatures will be about the same so I’ll pack for layering, but at least it won’t be that “wet” kind of cold that gets into your bones that we have here.

Hot water and cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a load of laundry to do before we leave on Thursday. I’m also packing in 3 bags to make the trip easier – 1 bag for the trip down, a larger one for being at SIL’s house (before and after) and another for the family reunion. Once we’re back at SIL’s I’ll do some laundry and pack the small one again for the trip home.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a bit to finish up before Wednesday so I can get them mailed before we leave Thursday, but am ahead of the game for a change.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX I’m up to date on Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias, but am still working my way through Firefly Lane.
  • PRIME Outer Range is getting a bit strange, but I still want to see where it goes.
  • TUBI Saturday night Svengoolie had a horrible remake of Invaders from Mars on and hubby wanted to see the original which we found it on TUBI. When it was over The Goonies came on which was fun for a nostalgic Saturday night 😀
  • CABLE COOKING Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beat Bobby Flay and Grocery Games, DUFF, Girl Meets Farm CRIME DRAMAS Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, The Rookie, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) COMEDIES Young Sheldon & Ghosts HALLMARK MOVIES When Calls the Heart DOCUMENTARIES Mysteries of the Abandoned SPORTS NASCAR

I’m started The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book,

but I also like lighter reading at times and and The Book of Sorrel by Jennifer Peel is great for 15-20 minutes before I fall asleep 😀

We took a nice walk the other evening after the day’s rain and before the night’s rain and were rewarded with some really pretty scenery and beautiful flowers.

Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses the LORD’s servant gave you: to Love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, be loyal to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul. Joshua 22:5 CSB

* NEW RECIPE
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*BRUNSWICK STEW & HONEY ROLLS
*PATCHWORK SOUP & BUTTERMILK ROLLS
C.O.R.N Y.O.Y.O  clean out refrigerator night – you’re on your own
OUT somewhere ON THE ROAD
SIL CHOICE
SIL CHOICE
SIL CHOICE
DESSERT
 
BUTTERMILK BROWNIES TO TAKE SIL

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 17 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

We had a really nice weekend here. Got the patio furniture cleaned up and situated, watered all the new flowers that appear to be going to make it despite our late season snowstorm last week and the tomatoes I finally planted last week appear to be okay despite the weird weather!

We had an absolutely beautiful warm weekend with sunshine and temperatures in the high 70’s. This week though is starting cloudy and is supposed to be 15 degrees cooler than the weekend was with a couple days of rain. Welcome to spring in the Pacific Northwest. 😀

We’re getting ready to go to our annual family reunion and the uncertainty of the weather makes it tough pack 😀 I always pack in layers, but LOL inevitably wish I had something I didn’t bring.

Hot water & cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got most the laundry done over the weekend, but will have a load or two by the end of the week.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Need to get the oil changed before our trip next week, get the tires rotated and hubby needs a haircut.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things that I need to get done before we leave, but I made a huge dent in the pile yesterday.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Not planning past next week as we’ll be leaving for our annual family reunion, where menus are primarily SIL’s domain in May 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We watched EAGLE EYE that was quite good, BLUE MIRACLE with Dennis Quaid that was based on a true story and also quite good. And we started a new series that we may or may not stick with called YAKAMOZ 2-345
  • PRIME We watched 2 more episodes of OUTER RANGE
  • DISNEY+ We watched The Eternals – I normally enjoy MARVEL movies, but this one was quite long and kept jumping back and forth thousands of years to tell the story so was a bit hard to follow at times. I also re-watched Hawkeye with hubby one evening as he’d not seen it yet.
  • CABLE COOKING Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beat Bobby Flay and Grocery Games CRIME DRAMAS Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, The Rookie, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) COMEDIES Young Sheldon & Ghosts HALLMARK MOVIES When Calls the Heart DOCUMENTARIES Mysteries of the Abandoned SPORTS NASCAR

I’m just starting The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book.

The local pond is still much higher than normal. This area is right next to the road and the “no trespassing” sign is usually standing about a foot out of water.

On Friday I went to a quilt show at the fair grounds and these are a few of my favorites.

*NEW RECIPES
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*BEEF & POTATO CASSEROLE
ENCHILADAS SUIZA & SALAD
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
*STEAK TIP SALAD & BUTTERMILK ROLLS
*BBQ PORK SANDWICHES & COLESLAW
*BRUNSWICK STEW & BISCUITS
BEEF STROGANOFF & GREEN BEANS
DESSERT
*BUTTERMILK BROWNIES

  • BAKED FRENCH ONION RICE
  • CHEESY ARTICHOKE CHICKEN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 16 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday! Ours was simple and quiet.The weather was still quite cool and was hopefully our last night of freezing weather because I REALLY need to get the tomato starters in the ground OUTSIDE because they are actually flowering and outgrowing to shoe box.

I made glazed ham steaks, scalloped potatoes, honey glazed carrots and homemade lemon curd and sour cherry jelly donuts. We delivered several of those to a friend who had to work today.

Maybe, just maybe, the weather is going to return to spring around here 😀 daytime in the 50’s and nighttime in the 40’s (mostly) and WET! I’m hoping to get the tomatoes moved from the shoe box on the kitchen table to the garden this week.

I’d been wishing I hadn’t packed away the heavier winter coats, but layers seem to be working for now. One day last week I actually had on 4 sweatshirts during the snow storm 🙂

Hot water & cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Deep clean is done, but have a load or two of laundry to do and a bit of vacuuming.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a booster for my booster today and will pick up a few groceries at that time. I also have a hair appointment later in the week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through the month.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV    If spring ever gets here, I’ll be outside more and watch less TV
  • NETFLIX MOVIES Spenser Confidential, Hudson Hawk – how did I not see this when it was new all those years ago? SHOWS I’m finishing the most recent season of Virgin River and just began the first season of Firefly Lane
  • PRIME Started the new series Outer Range – we’ll see where it goes
  • DISNEY+ I watched season 1 of Hawkeye
  • CABLE COOKING Tournament of Champions, Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beet Bobby Flay and Grocery Games CRIME DRAMAS Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) COMEDIES Young Sheldon & Ghosts and we’re trying the new How We Roll HALLMARK MOVIES When Calls the Heart DOCUMENTARIES Mysteries of the Abandoned SPORTS NASCAR, Football

I just finished books #1 Return to Sender and #2 In Name Only and I’m about to start Jennifer Peel’s Silent Partner, book #3 in the Pine Falls series

We had a strange springtime snow storm last week! Made for a strange trip to town in April.

*NEW RECIPES
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
*CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
*PORK CHOPS with TOMATOES and BAKED FRENCH ONION RICE
*MEXICAN BEAN PATCHWORK SOUP & BISCUITS
*CHILI CHICKEN
*CHEESY ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
DESSERT
*BUTTERMILK BROWNIES

  • JELLY DONUTS