Category: HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 3 of 2022

RECI

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 is always one of those dates that sticks with me! 28 years ago today, also on a Monday, my world turned upside down (along with thousands of others) when at 430AM the Northridge earthquake struck and we lost it all. Even after growing up in southern California and knowing about, as well as living through other major quakes, the memories of this one in particular are VERY vivid. I honestly thought a jet plane had crashed into the neighborhood from the violent way it all happened (I was literally thrown out of bed across the room and had bruises on the bottoms of my feet for a month), but I lived on a street near a DWP plant and what I thought I saw was actually the transformers on the pole tops all blowing one after another…

The earthquake occurred just after 4:30 am local time along a previously undocumented blind thrust fault in Northridge California, a suburb located about 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The major shock lasted 10–20 seconds and its peak ground acceleration of 1.82 g was the highest ever instrumentally recorded in an urban area in North America and registered a magnitude of 6.7. It was caused by dip slip on a thrust fault—the overriding movement of one crustal block up and over a second crustal block.

This is what is left of the parking garage I would have been parked in later that day had it not been a federal holiday for Martin Luther King day.

The major shock lasted 10–20 seconds AND I am STILL after all these years flabbergasted by the things destroyed AND the things that survived that horrible day in just that short amount of time.

My car was totaled when the neighbors block wall toppled on top of it because there was no rebar supporting it, but my Princess House Brandy snifter bowl full of all the shells I’ve collected through life survived after it flew across the room and landed on top of a pillow under my roll top desk. The painter was coming that day to do the remodel on the kitchen so literally EVERYTHING kitchen related was on banquet tables throughout the house as we had just spent the weekend emptying EVERY single cabinet. We lost every last piece of our small appliances, glassware, dishes, crystal, china, food, etc… and yet life has moved on, things have been replaced and the memories remain.

This is the first piece of Princess House crystal I ever purchased and the ONLY piece I have left. Only God knows how it survived that day since NOTHING else did. In it are the shells that I have collected with my cousin Jenn throughout my life from the Galveston, Texas Gulf Coast. She and I neither one live there now, but do still have friends and family in the vicinity.

On another note today would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday – SEE MY GINGERBREAD POST to honor her later today.

This was one of my favorite magazine covers from her 98th birthday.

I’m keeping track of the words from the Compendium of UGLY English words calendar I was gifted for Christmas as a source of amusement. Some of these are roll on the floor laughing hilarious and others are just flat out gross! They do cheat a bit and only give us one word for the weekends. 😀 I’ll pick up where we left off last Monday.

  • January 10 – MILDEW (noun) A white fungus that forms on damp organic material like clothes or rugs. Commonly found in old apartment complexes under that light fixture that always leaks when it rains.
  • January 11 – NAUSEA (noun) Believe it or not, there’s a word for that queasy rumbling you get in your stomach as you stare into the dizzying abyss of your toilet following a night of heavy partying or cheap Thai food: nausea. If you’re feeling “nauseated” or “nauseous” and think that you situation can’t possibly get any worse, just know that you can.
  • January 12 – DOUCHE (noun) A strong jet of water applied to certain body cavities as a means of cleansing, or a device used for this purpose. You probably saw it in a French Airbnb once.
  • January 13 – PANTIES (noun) A woman’s undergarments and contender for worst word on this list next to moist purely for its consistent pairing with the word “used” as in “used panties” and as in “with no time to spare and no other option,…
  • January 14 – QUAFF (noun) To drink with enthusiasm (or the act of doing so). Often results in throbbing hangovers and a lot of missed calls from some guy named :Hot Anthony”.
  • January 15-16 – SNOT (noun) A piece of mucus and/or a stuck-up person. Snot is the sound you hear when your nose is filled with snot and you attempt to breathe in. Try it.

We’re a bit on the dry side again, but still cold with highs in the low 50’s and night’s in the 30’s with foggy days so I am still enjoying hoodies and UGGs when I go out.

WOW, just such a big category lately. I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around people spouting “hoax” regarding the pandemic. No matter where you stand on vaccinations, saying that there is nothing going on is just crazy. The cult like mentality it takes to believe that the WHOLE world is perpetrating a hoax just baffles me. I pray that some enlightenment takes root soon. We need to be over this pandemic as a lifestyle.

Hot water, a banana and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a couple loads of laundry to do along with bathrooms and kitchen deep clean. The dishwasher mother board fried after the last power outage 🙁 After some research and the inability to get a plumber in a timely manner the $450 for a plumber and part on a 6 year old appliance just didn’t make sense so we replaced the dishwasher on Saturday which was another 14 step project LOL 😀 Since I had to empty beneath the sink it just made sense to do a deep clean that area and then the walls and floor behind and under the dishwasher…
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING The BIG downsize sort through the recipe tote is complete and BIG handful have been chosen as the next culprits for the winter. They have even been organized by category 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby’s surgical follow up and stitch removal is later this morning as well as another appointment. Besides groceries, I don’t have many errands this week.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Now that the holidays are over, the decorations are all cleaned up and the house completely back in order I have some paperwork and calls to get to. Just after I posted my HHM last week Diana chose the painting for the Eagles fundraiser. It’s not really my style or even my favorite choice, but it is for a fundraiser 🙂 so paint I will.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We’re finishing the Yellowstone marathon we recorded a couple weeks ago. We just finished season 3 and will watch season 4 this week. After episode 10 of season 3 and episode 1 of season 4 I needed a minute to process it all. BULL, New Amsterdam, The Resident, 911, Chicago series – Medical, Fire & P.D., Magnum PI, Blue Bloods, NCIS,  I also have a couple Hallmark movies to watch – The Wedding Veil #1 of a trilogy, Sweet Pecan Summer, North to Home and some cooking shows to catch up on – Kids Baking Championship, Guy’s Ranch Kitchen, Molly Yeh, Beat Bobby Flay, Alex VS. America, Guy’s Grocery Games…
  • AMAZON PRIME We’re waiting for Mrs. Maisel to begin again – they finally announced it would be February 18th, but they’re only going to release 2 episodes a week for 4 weeks. That is probably good for me though – otherwise I’d have to watch all 8 episodes in a single sitting.

Hidden in the Keys, Longboat Key Island by Sage Parker

Okay, I didn’t take this picture, but I thought it was quite funny that I needed to share it 😀
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHICKEN MADEIRA
SEAFOOD EXTRAORDINAIRE CASSEROLE
FRITOS NACHOS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
PROSCIUTTO STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
ENCHILADAS SUIZA
GERMAN APPLE PANCAKES
DESSERT
CHERRY CHEESECAKE BITES and DUFF’S ELVIS COOKIES

  • CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD PASTA SALAD
  • APPLE PANCAKES
  • BAYOU BLEND CASSEROLE
  • CHERRY CHEESECAKE BITES
  • BALSAMIC PINEAPPLE CHICKEN
  • SUN DRIED TOMATO PESTO SALAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 2 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 finally got most of the Christmas decorations all stowed away this past weekend. It was cold, but dry and somewhat sunny for a couple hours each day so that helped a lot. I’m still waiting on delivery of one last tote for larger items. Taking the batteries out of items took some of the longest along with untangling some light strings.

We were also able to get a couple of walks in helping hubby not feels so house bound.

I’m keeping track of the words from the Compendium of UGLY English words calendar I was gifted for Christmas as a source of amusement. Some of these are roll on the floor laughing hilarious! They do cheat a bit and only give us one word for the weekends. 😀 I’ll pick up where we left off last Monday.

  • January 4 – CHUMP (noun) A lump of timber; the blunt end of an object; someone (usually a man) with an IQ lower than a piece of wood’s.
  • January 5 – DEBT (noun) What’s easy to get, hard to lose, and make a grown man cry? Answer: it’s debt. Massive debilitating debt.
  • January 6 – GASSY (adjective) Full of gas-not in an automobile sort of way, but in a my-boyfriend-ate-Mexican-ffod-and-has-been-farting-in-bed-all-night sort of way. Some sources theorize that wars could be fought more effectively through the use of butt gas over tear gas, though this has not tested.
  • January 7 – JAUNDICE (noun) That thing that happens in medical drama where the patient looks in the mirror to find that their face has turned a troubling shade of yellow overnight. It occurs when waste material builds up in the body, and it’s just as gross as it sounds.
  • January 8/9 – KITSCHY (adjective) In poor taste due to excessive garishness or tackiness. What you might call the section of your grandmother’s living room that’s blanketed in collectible windmill statues.

I’m still loving the colder weather with highs in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s allowing me to enjoy my mock turtleneck and flannel shirt combos with comfy Levis and UGGs.

I’m relieved that hubby’s surgery is over and he’s finally feeling more like himself. He has another week until his follow up appointment where we find out the next step with physical therapy. I’m also relieved that my stepson and his wife finally turned the corner this past weekend from their COVID breakthrough infections and are also on the mend finally. It’s been really hard to be so far away and not able to help at least drop off prescriptions or food. They will have to wait 3 months now before getting their boosters. I pray that everyone stays safe and continues to protect themselves from this horrible pandemic.

Hot water and a banana

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
    • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I spent a good deal of last week mainly tending to hubby while he recuperated and didn’t get nearly as much done as planned. I did get the Christmas tree down, the decorations sorted and stored and will now do a deep clean this week. AND Why is it that doing one thing leads to 13 or 14 others? This all started when the fluorescent light fixture died and we installed a new, much brighter one making it all quite obvious. The shelf in the laundry room that WAS level before we did the new floor last year was no longer level after we did the new floor. Of course we leveled the floor so obviously the original flooring was the culprit, but now we needed to redo the shelf. In order to do that we had to disconnect the washer and dryer and move them out of the way. After doing that we realized that we needed to seal the floor and baseboard with silicone to eliminate the “winter” ants – you know the little black ones that come in search of warmth, but don’t get into food. With that done the quick half paint job done last year before the new washer was put in made the rest of the room look shabby now that it is so well lit so I had to paint the whole room. While doing that we realized that the cabinet door above the washer needed adjusting…etc…
    • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I did the grocery shopping last Friday when I was in town and errands are up to date so no plans to go very far.
    • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I started the BIG sort each evening to eliminate the recipes from the tote that I will NEVER make, at least based on my likes and dislikes today! I’m even making an effort to downsize recipes and use ingredients back to back to cut down on waste.
    • PROJECTS, PAPERWORK, & PHONE CALLS I’m considering a couple of new paintings. The gnome is one my girlfriend sent me a picture of – even though LOL 😀 we said we would do NO more gnomes. She’s our Eagles Auxiliary president and is going to have one more fundraiser before her term is up. It will be a painting class at the post, but she hasn’t yet chosen the painting. I’m hoping for something floral and springy. And I just fell in love with this little giraffe. I MUST paint him. 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
 CABLE 1883, YELLOWSTONE, KID’S BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP, ALEX VS. AMERICA, GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, BEAT BOBBY FLAY, NEXT LEVEL CHEF, Judge Steve Harvey is so funny

I did make a reading list for the month and tried to make it a bit diverse. At the rate I’m going so far this will also be the list for February.

  • Return to Sender by Jennifer Peel If Ariana Stanton has learned anything in life, it’s that men leave. She’s been taught this lesson well from the father she’s never met, who sends her a mysterious letter once a year, to her ex-fiancé, who left her for another woman.
    Dr. Jonah Adkinson has one regret–that he let Ariana remain convinced that love never lasts.
    Now, not only does Ariana have to face the man she’s still in love with, but she must confront the mystery of her father’s letters, forcing her to reevaluate the past and her choices.
  • The Cottage at Hope Cove by Hannah Ellis Lizzie Beaumont has it all: a great career, a wealthy fiancé, and the wedding of her dreams just months away. But when her fiancé puts work before her again, she sets off for a week in the picturesque town of Hope Cove. She’s hoping for time away from the chaos to find herself.Instead, she finds Max. One week with Max has left her questioning her life choices. Is her fiancé the man of her dreams, or just the man who asked? Now Lizzie must decide what her life will be. Will she go for the safe and predictable route, or take a chance on a man she hardly knows?
  • The Cape May Garden by Claudia Vance Margaret Wilder’s life is about to be turned upside down…when her husband of fifteen years abruptly leaves without explanation.Now as their young daughters struggle to understand why their dad has been gone for a month without so much as a phone call, Margaret begins to uncover her husband’s secrets while unraveling her own long-buried feelings about their marriage.As she forms an unlikely friendship with her handsome coworker, Dave, things take a turn when she is offered a great opportunity to build the garden of her dreams on a piece of land by the beach.
  • The Secrets We Left Behind by Soraya Lane Occupied France, 1940. When the staff at a field hospital draw straws to find out who will join the evacuation from Dunkirk, Nurse Cate is left behind. But when the Nazis arrive to claim prisoners of war, she takes her chance and flees into the night, taking one patient with her.Fifty miles away, the surrendering soldiers of the Royal Norfolk Regiment are shot dead by the advancing Germans. Beneath the pile of bodies two men survive, crawling to the safety of a nearby farmhouse, where sisters Elise and Adelaide risk their lives to take them in. When Cate, too, arrives at their door with her injured soldier, the pressure mounts.The sisters are risking everything to keep their visitors safe. But with the Nazis coming ever closer and relationships in the farmhouse intensifying, they must all question the sacrifices they are willing to make for the lives of others. How far will they go for family, friendship, and love?
  • Fanny Bower Puts Herself Out There by Julia Ariss Fanny Bower is not a joiner. She leads a quiet existence – keeping to the sidelines, avoiding high jinks, living in her head and waiting for something momentous to happen… whatever that is. Her new “butterfly wings” are tested as they flutter incessantly between mystifying small talk and mortifying gaffes in a bid to unleash a charm offensive… whatever that means. At the very height of her confusion, she is spurred to action by the plight of a friend. She plunges headlong into a situation fraught with uncertainty and risks everything, including the alienation of the one person she’s managed to captivate in the process.
  • Hidden in the Keys, Longboat Key Island by Sage Parker Julia Masterson has high hopes for a new beginning. Her husband, Frank had promised to dedicate the rest of his life making their marriage work. Both newly retired, in their little beach cottage in Longboat Key, Florida, everything started out just as she imagined. Until he didn’t come home that night. Or the next. What began as romantic walks on the beach had quickly become a desperate search to find her missing husband. When local detective Brody Barker steps onto the scene, he’s determined to solve the case quickly and move on. But every lead is a dead-end. The closer Julia gets to finding out the truth, the further away she gets from wanting to know the answers. And just as the faith in her marriage starts to crumble, Brody realizes he is the only thing standing in the way of her and disaster.

Just 3 months ago this sign right next to the road was HIGH & DRY on a stake about 18 inches tall. You can see where it is now. Fortunately, the water floods over the driveway to the left and into a drainage ditch, that while full, is functioning for runoff. I thought it was a poignant picture of how quickly things can change with a month of rain followed by a foot of snow that melted when followed by another 5 inches of rain.

Hangers make a GREAT recipe stand holder.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
ROAST PORK and using the leftovers for this week’s menu
PORK ENCHILADAS
PORK STREET TACOS & CHIPOTLE RE-FRIED BEANS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
SHREDDED PORK GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES AND TOMATO SOUP
PORK STUFFED PEPPERS
PORK SLIDERS & COLE SLAW
DESSERT
COCOA OATIES

  • BRAISED LAMB SHANKS
  • APPLE PANCAKE
  • ITALIAN BOLOGNESE STUFFED PEPPERS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 1 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

Do you do new year’s resolutions? I quit years ago because I felt they were always too short lived. Instead I try to make lifestyle habit changes that are longer term and I try to adjust regularly.

I was gifted several planners this year so I have the unique opportunity to try them all out and see what really “fits”. One of the planners is a menu planner and habit tracker. I’m just not sure quite yet what is going to work best with my organizational style.

I did spend most of the snow week working on cleaning up my digital files and updating my computer so I could start the new year a little “cleaner”.

I was also gifted The Illustrated Compendium of UGLY English words which I’m finding quite amusing. We all have those words that just make us cringe and this calendar appears to be going to touch on all of them 😀

A Compendium is a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, in this case UGLY English words.

I thought it would be fun to keep track of these each week as a source of amusement. They did cheat a bit and only give us one word for the whole weekend. 😀

  • January 1/2 – ACRID (adjective) – Deeply bitter; corrosive; so unpleasant in taste or odor that it causes people to retch instantaneously and shriek the word into the air like a pained battle cry: “ACKKKKK-RID.”
  • January 3 – BACKWASH (noun) – A backward current; the moving of waterin a reverse direction; the liquid that flows from a person’s mouth back into the bottle when they remove it from their lips. Or, rather, the spit water that a younger sibling uses to prevent you from stealing swigs of their drink.

I decided to join in with many others and choose a word for the year and make a list of things to accomplish also. If you’re interested that post is here.

The cold and snow lasted through yesterday so I really got my wish for Christmas snow! A new storm, a bit warmer HA HA 40’s instead of 30’s, started pushing in just after lunch. We’re supposed to get close to 5 inches of rain in 5 days with this storm front. Oh, and now it’s windy – REALLY windy!! They said the wind advisory was from 4pm yesterday through 4pm today, but it showed up early with a vengeance. Before it began we did at least get the outside Christmas decorations put into the garage to dry out a bit before being packed away for the year.

I actually wish it was snow since we are already so wet and now have huge puddles of run off water EVERYWHERE and 5 inches more will just turn that all into mud puddles and slick roadways. Plus with the wind it will still feel just as cold 😀 But, at least we’ll be worrying less about frozen pipes.

I’m feeling extremely anxious and concerned. My prayers go out to everyone suffering, in whatever way, from anything, but especially from this pandemic. Seems like no matter how hard we try to stay safe, life happens around us leaving so many susceptible.

We found out just before new years that our vaccinated step son and his wife have COVID and are really quite ill with breakthrough infections. We have several other friends who while also vaccinated have just healed from bad breakthrough infections.

Thank god they were vaccinated if the severity of their breakthrough infections is any indication of how much worse it would have been had they not been. But, they are not out of the woods yet and prayers would be deeply appreciated.

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Hubby is having some surgery tomorrow and will be home and “out of commission” this week so I’ll be staying close. I’ll use that time to take down the tree, finish sorting the ornaments and put away ALL the Christmas decorations. Truth be told I’m loving having the tree still lit up and glowing during the dreary weather.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I did the grocery shopping and errands last Wednesday before the craziness of the holiday set in. We were isolating and preparing for hubby’s surgery tomorrow so avoided everyone and every situation out of precautiion.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS End of the year paperwork sort and clean up and preparing the files for 2022.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve planned as many of my January recipes around cleaning out the pantry and freezer as possible. I’m also concentrating reworking any new recipes I make into meals for two so we don’t have any leftovers and adjusting recipes as necessary.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX
  • CABLE The Rose parade while shorter at least happened this year. We missed the first season of Yellowstone when it began because we were in the middle of the BIG move back here and just never were able to catch up. And then Paramount ran a marathon this past New Years and since we were home isolating waiting for hubby’s surgery, we’ve been binge watching to catch up to last night’s season finale. Several new cooking shows started last night and this week that I want to try. And regular TV programming began again too so now I find myself right back in catch up mode 😀 And Mike Rowe’s Dirty jobs began again – I’ve always loved this show and learning about all these horribly dirty jobs.

I just finished State of Grace from Marie Force and am looking forward to the next installment in September, but in the meantime she’s branching off again into a 3rd series that will expound on the characters even more, but that book doesn’t come out until February.

In the meantime I will be reading Ava Miles Beside Golden Irish Fields of another series for this author with characters that I also love.

I’m anxious to begin the Hidden Child by Louisa Fein and When the Nightingale Sings by Suzanne Kelman. I’m hoping they both write in similar style to Gill Paul who writes stories about today that began during WWI or WWII and leave their footprints along the way tying the present to the past.


We had a wonderful, but quiet Christmas and New Years with just over a foot of of snow which was quite beautiful making it a true Winter Wonderland. A few friends are “blaming” me for all the snow because I kept wishing for a Christmas snow. LOL I did wish for it, but I just didn’t plan on it being quite so much or lasting through the end of the year!

The neighbor boys made a “toppled” snowman and tried their hand at “pool sledding” 😀 Fortunately I was able to take all these pictures without even stepping outside!

While I do most of this twice a year or even some it quarterly, I “start” my year with the following list. Doing this makes it easy to remember when it was done last 😀

  • Change the smoke detector batteries
  • Change the refrigerator filter
  • Change the kitchen water filter
  • Wash the cold air return filter
  • Clean behind the refrigerator
  • Clean behind the stove
  • Do a vinegar clean in the coffee pot
  • Do a vinegar clean in the washing machine
  • Do a baking soda/vinegar clean on sink basins
  • Turn the hangers around! I do make an exception for things that are obvious exceptions like special dresses to wear to formal events. weddings or funerals etc…

I’m trying a new menu planner and habit tracker for 2022 that will hopefully streamline my menus. I’m also still including the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon. I’m really hoping to get caught up on indexing recipes for the blog which is a monumental feat! After last week’s recipes all revolving around either prime rib or turkey I’m ready for a little more adventure.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*STUFFED MEATBALL PIES
*ULTIMATE CHICKEN CASSEROLE
*INSTA POT POT ROAST & VEGGIES
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
CLAM CHOWDER & CRUSTY SOURDOUGH BREAD
CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE a remake from the blog to get a better picture
*BACON CHEESE BURGER BALLS & ONION RINGS
DESSERT *new recipe I’m trying this week
*something chocolate

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS week 53 of 2021

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! Here we are in the last week of 2021. I honestly DO NOT know where this year went so fast! We lost power again early this morning for several hours so I’m quickly trying to catch up.

I have high hopes for 2022 after 2020 and 2021 being such a chaotic mess. Let 2022 be the year that we prove the glass is refillable instead of half full OR half empty! Please Lord help them find a cure for this dreaded virus!

This is one of those categories that falls under the BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR titles, at least for this week. I really wanted snow for Christmas – just a little – well I got it! and got it again! 😀 It does look like by the end of the week we will be returning to our “normal” wet weather, but then again there wasn’t snow predicted during SNOWMAGEDDON 2019 🙂 We were a soggy mess before the snow, so as it melts and we return to more rain, it could be even messier.

I included Saturday and Sunday in the picture above so you could see what we’re getting. We did lose power for a short time yesterday morning, but fortunately it returned fairly quickly 😀

Hot water and baby food squeeze 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING When the power came back on I was able to get caught up on laundry yesterday (just in case the power goes out again like the DISH cable has). I also deep cleaned the kitchen yesterday after the mess I’d made from all the baking and Christmas cooking. I’ll also do a bit of vacuuming later today.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS & PROJECTS Fortunately we have no where to go until Thursday and then that’s just a quick errand. I have no intentions of really being out and about until 2022. I’m working on some drawings for some spring paintings I’ll begin later this week.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS Once again NOT the week for phone calls, but I will keep moving forward on some paperwork.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING LOTS of leftovers between now and 2022 using up the Christmas turkey and Prime Rib starting with last night’s Prime Rib Barley soup.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Joyuex Noel
  • TUBI A Chance for Christmas
  • DVD White Christmas, Home Alone 1 & 2, It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th street 1947 & 1994Die Hard 1 & 2
  • CABLE A few Christmas movies to catch up on, Kids Baking Championship

I’ve started 3 different books, but hope to finish them all this week.

  • Marie Force’s State of Grace from the FATAL series
  • When Never Comes by Barbara Davis
  • Lisa Wingate’s The Sandcastle Sister from the (CAROLINA CHRONICLES) series

My psuedo STEP SIL (long story there) makes these every year for her Christmas cards. I was lucky enough to receive 3 this year and they look awesome on the tree.

I still need to edit yesterday’s snow pictures, but here are a few unedited. These are from yesterday. I’ll probably get a few more today as we got several more inches last night and everything is completely covered again. I just loved the little old lady (probably about 90) clearing her driveway and walk with the wheel barrow, but I feel sorry for her as it all covered again.

Santa and his hot air balloon are buried under there somewhere. He was already on his last legs 😀 but the snow cinched it.

As you put away the Christmas wrappings, keep this in mind. Those missing/mismatched socks from the dryer that have no mates can have more use in them. I store the wrapping rolls inside of each other and then use the socks to keep them tight and protected.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
PRIME RIB QUESADILLAS
PRIME RIB STROGANOFF
PRIME RIB & CARAMELIZED ONION SANDWICHES
TURKEY TETRAZINNI
BLACK EYED PEA CHILI
BRAISED LAMB SHANKS with MAC & CHEESE inspired by BOSTON’S DARYL’S CORNER BAR
C.O.R.N.  CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
DESSERT
WHIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES

  • NONA’S TOFFEE BARS
  • SHORTBREAD TOFFEE
  • BAKED BEAN DIP

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS week 52 of 2021

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

How is everyone? Have you finished your Christmas shopping and preparations? For the first time ever I finished a week early and have had time to just bake and enjoy! Part of that has been my self imposed simplicity for the year. I’m loving it and quite honestly there really doesn’t feel like there is anything missing!

I fell behind a bit last week with BLOGMAS having too much fun baking, but I’m all caught up now 😀

Day 1 ~ Holiday Schedule
Day 2 ~ Elf on the Shelf / Gnomes
Day 3 ~ Christmas Movie MUST Watch List
Day 4 ~ Christmas Music Playlist
Day 5 ~ Quiet Christmas?
Day 6  ~Christmas Cookies
Day 7 ~ Real or Artificial Tree?
Day 8 ~ Winter MUST haves
Day 9 ~ Christmas Cards
Day 10 ~ Advent Calendar
Day 11 ~ Favorite Decorations and Ornaments
Day 12 ~Outdoor Decorations & Lights
Day 13 ~ TAG questions
Day 14 ~ Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Day 15 ~ Neighbor Plates & Gifts / Delivery Drivers
Day 16 ~ WISH List
Day 17 ~ Party Food Ideas/ CHARCUTERIE Boards
Day 18 ~ Favorite Christmas Foods, Beverages & Recipes
Day 19 ~ Inspirations & Stories
Day 20 ~ Favorite Family Traditions
Day 21 ~ Wrapping Ideas
Day 22 ~ Weather/Winter Wonderland Pictures
Day 23 ~ Meaning of Christmas
Day 24 ~ Christmas Past, Present & Future
Day 25 ~ When Do You Open Presents?

Looks like we’re going to get that snow for Christmas day(and then some) that I wished for, BUT this forecast as been ever changing, so while I’m hoping it’s true, I know in reality it will probably change again.

Hot water and baby food squeeze 😀 this doesn’t change much

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING & PROJECTS I was able to complete the laundry yesterday after the Eagles Christmas party. I do have a few items (Christmas totes) to move to the garage before vacuuming. We installed a new LED ceiling fixture in the laundry room on Saturday to replace the old fluorescent fixture that died. And we will install the new ceiling fan in the master bedroom later today. I also deep cleaned behind the refrigerator and under the stove over the weekend.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I do need just a couple things and will do those on Tuesday morning early!!!
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I’ll work a bit whittling down my to do pile of paperwork and end of the year tasks, but will NOT call anyone this week so they can enjoy their holiday week too 😀
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on a new planner and wellness guide for 2022 hoping to incorporate all my “normal” tasks into a SINGLE planner.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Christmas in the Heartland
  • DISNEY+ I tried to watch the Home Alone knock off Home Sweet Home, but just couldn’t finish it 🙁
  • REDBOX The Jungle Cruise with Dwayne Johnson & Cry Macho with Clint Eastwood
  • CABLE It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, a couple Lifetime & Hallmark Christmas movies

I just started a new series from Ava Miles, Beside Golden Irish Fields (Book 1) ~ The Unexpected Prince Charming Series but have been falling asleep almost immediately before getting too far into the book.

Saturday night we froze our butts off watching the Timber Town Toy Land Electric Light Parade which honestly they over named! We are a small town and they try hard, but this year’s parade wasn’t nearly as good as last years 🙁 but I did get a few good pictures. It stayed clear until after the parade and the storm moving in gave the full moon an eerie glow.

MAKE THIS YOUR CHEAT WEEK 😀

NOT SURE IF THIS WORKS, BUT SOUNDS WORTH A TRY 😀

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
ORANGE APRICOT CHICKEN & RICED CAULIFLOWER PILAF
BAKED BEAN DIP & CHIPS
COMPANY CHICKEN and DRIED BEEF PICKLE ROLL DIP & CHIPS
CHRISTMAS ENCHILADAS
ROAST TURKEY BREAST, MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY, HONEYED CARROTS & UPSIDE DOWN APPLE PIE
MARINATED PRIME RIB, TWICE BAKED POTATOES, SAUTEED GREEN BEANS & AUSTRALIAN CHEESECAKE
C.O.R.N. leftovers
DESSERT
AUSTRALIAN CHEESECAKE & UPSIDE DOWN APPLE PIE

  • BAKED BEAN DIP
  • DRIED BEEF PICKLE ROLL DIP
  • ORANGE APRICOT CHICKEN
  • TRIED & TRUE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
  • COMPANY CHICKEN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS week 51 of 2021

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

How is everyone this morning? Are you ready for Christmas?

I’m actually ready. ALMOST! Shopping is done. Packages are wrapped and will be ALL shipped as of later this morning. Rib roast is ordered at the Butcher. Menus are made. Food donations are arranged for the baskets being given away. Cookies are proportioned for the Cookie Exchange later this week.

But, for some reason this year I fell behind on Christmas cards (I’m usually ready by the end of November) and I’m not even sure why! I also whittled down my list this year so there are fewer cards ~ so I have no real excuse. I will get them finished today or tonight.

I’m even up to date minus yesterday’s post on BLOGMAS so all and all I’m pretty pleased.

DAY 1 ~ Holiday Schedule
DAY 2 ~ Elf on the Shelf / Gnomes
DAY 3 ~ Christmas Movie MUST Watch List
Day 4 ~ Christmas Music Playlist
DAY 5 ~ Quiet Christmas?
Day 6  ~Christmas Cookies
Day 7 ~ Real or Artificial Tree?
Day 8 ~ Winter MUST haves
Day 9 ~ Christmas Cards
Day 10 ~ Advent Calendar
Day 11 ~ Favorite Decorations and Ornaments
Day 12 ~Outdoor Decorations & Lights
Day 13 ~ TAG questions
Day 14 ~ Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Day 15 ~ Neighbor Plates & Gifts / Delivery Drivers
Day 16 ~ WISH List
Day 17 ~ Party Food Ideas/ CHARCUTERIE Boards – OOPS I’m a day behind, but will get caught up today 😀
Day 18 ~ Favorite Christmas Foods, Beverages & Recipes

Our forecast keeps alternating between rain and snow so it really could go either way since we are now on WINTER STORM WARNING! Our highs are supposed to be in the low 40’s and the nighttime lows in the very low 30’s and lots of wet, wet days ahead this week.

We’ve also been extremely windy. Saturday night we had to disconnect the Frosty and Santa blow-ups because they were trying to take flight. We also lost one of the old fashioned Christmas light posts when it blew off the porch and shattered. 🙁 The rain pounded for all of Friday and Saturday making everything a soppy mess, but there were a couple hours in the 40’s yesterday where we were able to get the blow ups drained off of excess water, untangled the wind blown lines and re-secure them. Hubby was even able to glue some of the lantern pieces back together, but this will be the last year for it.

WINTER STORM WARNING ~ PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
* Travel is strongly discouraged because of dangerous conditions.
* If you must travel, keep tire chains, a flashlight, blankets, food, water, medications, and 
a fully charged phone with you.
* The safest place during a winter storm is indoors.
* A Winter Storm Warning means that severe winter weather is imminent and poses a threat 
to life and property. Take protective action now.

Hot water and Peach, Apple, Pear squeeze

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is up to date, but I need to vacuum and finish some reorganizing of the spice cabinet.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I do need to ship a couple last minute gifts today – there was a snafu and the recipe cutting boards we were having made weren’t ready until late Saturday for pick up. I had seen these all over Amazon (I included the picture in the favorite photos section) but I found a local artisan who made the cutting boards from local woods and partnered with another local artisan who did the lasering part. I’m so happy to have been able to support local mom and pop shops instead of some foreign corporate chain. I’m hoping they’ll arrive before Christmas with all the holiday shipping delays going on this year. Fortunately I don’t “need” to go anywhere else until Friday for a pedicure and I’ll do any last minute errands then. I do have a painting class/cookie exchange on Thursday night. We’re doing a really cute stockings hung by the fire scene. Here’s the sample picture, but mine will have 6 stockings.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I’ve been whittling away at the stack and aim to have it completed by the end of the year.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I did buy a new recipe planner for 2022 and will spend some of my down time during the wet week working on the January menus.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX The Holiday Calendar & A Boy Called Christmas
  • CABLE HALLMARK CHRISTMAS movies, Baking shows, Mysteries of the Abandoned

I’m in between reads right now and need to decide on something, but for now have just been playing words with friends as I fall asleep.

We had this family recipe lasered onto cutting boards (made by a local artisan) made for gifts this year and I can show you how cool they are because the recipients don’t read my Monday posts 😀 I wish the picture was better, but too late to take a new one as they are wrapped and ready for shipping in a couple hours.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
ORANGE PECAN CHICKEN
ORANGE APRICOT CHICKEN
PHILLY CHEESESTEAK EGG ROLLS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
DRIED PICKLE ROLL DIP & CHIPS
RUSTIC TATER SOUP & HAM SANDWICHES
BAKED BEAN DIP & PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES
DESSERT
MILLIONAIRES & DROP SUGAR COOKIES

  • RUSTIC TATER & HAM SOUP
  • ROASTED POTATO SALAD
  • BLUEBERRY SOUR CREAM BREAD/MUFFINS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS week 50 of 2021

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

Did you have a good week? Are you ready for the holidays? Are you going simple this year or going BIG after last year being so low key? We’re going low key, but I didn’t have to be talked into decorating this year. Wanting to downsize many things made that choice easy.

I had a pretty good week and accomplished quite a bit. I also ended it with a painting class yesterday that I enjoyed, BUT was really a bit of a pain in the butt because many people weren’t paying attention and she had to repeat herself quite a bit.

Here are mine and Jessica’s paintings. I’m fairly happy with it so far, but will probably do some touch up in the future.

Don’t forget to join in to BLOGMAS when you can. Here is a list of the links to date. I’m not doing a linky, but will visit you if you comment so I know you played along 😀

DAY 1 ~ Holiday Schedule
DAY 2 ~ Elf on the Shelf / Gnomes
DAY 3 ~ Christmas Movie MUST Watch List
Day 4 ~ Christmas Music Playlist
DAY 5 ~ Quiet Christmas?
Day 6  ~Christmas Cookies
Day 7 ~ Real or Artificial Tree?
Day 8 ~ Winter MUST haves
Day 9 ~ Christmas Cards
Day 10 ~ Advent Calendar
Day 11 ~ Favorite Decorations and Ornaments

It’s going to be quite a wet week. Snow was even in the forecast for 2 days, but we’ll see if that materializes. Our highs will be in the low 50’s and low’s in the low 30’s. Hubby has an early doctor’s appointment that I need to go to also this morning so I’m in layers of warm things 😀

Hot water and baby food squueze – apple pineapple carrot today – actually a favorite flavor!

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Mostly done except for a load of delicates.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS All done yesterday on my way home from painting class.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS A few things to do, but most will wait til January now.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on a Christmas and New Year’s menu and setting aside some new soups and stews to try in January.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We watched A Castle for Christmas with Brooke Shields, Red Notice with Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson and Father Christmas is Back with Kelsey Grammer
  • RED BOX We watched 13 minutes, OLD and a really bad Nicholas Cage movie Prisoners of Ghosts
  • CABLE HALLMARK and LIFETIME CHRISTMAS movies (some of which this year are just NOT up to Hallmark standards) as well as Christmas baking shows – BUDDY VS. DUFF, HOLIDAY WARS, CHRISTMAS COOKIE CHALLENGE, HOLIDAY BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP

I have been so exhausted when I fall into bed that I haven’t gotten much reading done recently. I did get 3 new Bible journaling and devotional books delivered over the weekend and will be beginning on them soon.

I did my part for shopping local and then encountered feeding time on the way home from town – only in the country do you have to wait for the cows to be fed in order to get where you’re going.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
RUEBEN EGG ROLLS
ORANGE APRICOT CHICKEN
GRILLED CHEESE PIMIENTO SANDWICHES & SOUP
KILBOURN SANDWICHES
MEATBALLS with PAPPARDELLE
ORANGE PECAN CHICKEN
BAKED BEAN DIP, DRIED BEEF PICKLE ROLL DIP
DESSERT
BLUEBERRY SOUR CREAM CAKE, GRAHAM CRACKER BROWNIES, RUSTIC NUT BARS, VELVEETA FUDGE, MILLIONAIRES & SNICKERDOODLE POPPERS

  • REUBEN EGG ROLLS
  • KILBOURN SANDWICHES
  • SHRIMP SCAMPI PASTA
  • CHARCUTERIE BOARDS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY with RECIPE LINKS week 49 of 2021

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

Did you enjoy Thanksgiving? Ours was quiet, but good. We had some good food, watched some football and Christmas movies. We also started and completed 

of the Christmas decorating. On Friday I had an appointment with a local mom & pop shop for their open house and again on Saturday did the Shop Small Rediscover Downtown with 4 of my favorite shops for most of the rest of my Christmas shopping.  I have a few items left that I can accomplish on Friday when I go to the Christmas Craft Fair at the fairgrounds.

Don’t forget I started the BLOGMAS 2021 posts. I hope you join in where you can.

DAY 1 ~ Holiday Schedule
DAY 2 ~ Elf on the Shelf / Gnomes
DAY 3 ~ Christmas Movie MUST Watch List
Day 4 ~ Christmas Music Playlist

It’s supposed to be cloudy all week, but reasonably dry which will be wonderful since the past couple weeks have been seriously “wet” cold that was settling in my bones. I’m hoping to dry out this week a bit.

Temperatures are supposed to be in the low 50’s for highs and high 30’s for lows. I’m loving the flannel and UGG’s weather.

Hot water and organic applesauce squeeze

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING We did MOST of the decorating over the weekend so now I need to vacuum and pick up all the clutter! We’re also planning on downsizing for the garage sale in the spring so I need to seriously go through ALL the ornaments and Christmas decorations. We have soooooooo many that one of the things I’m going to do is label some totes as “USED in 2021” and the others as “USE IN 2022”. Everything not chosen for those categories will be going into the garage sale. Hubby is going to finish the outdoor decorations today, but even some of those have been chosen for the garage sale bin 😀 I NEED to do a DEEP clean of the pantry and laundry room to get an end of the year inventory for menu planning.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have 2 early appointments on Wednesday with the dermatologist and to get my hair done so will do all my errands and grocery shopping after those.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I’m working on this category today and tomorrow – the worst will be dealing with the insurance company trying to get things approved that have been previously denied and trying to do it with all my doctors leaving the area and leaving me in the lurch 🙁
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING It’s that time of year to clean out the freezer too so will work on recipes for December that do just that 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • REDBOX 13 MINUTES about a tornado and OLD about a science experiment gone awry – 13 MINUTES was done really well with a lot of detail and OLD was good, but really weird at times.
  • DISNEY+ HAWKEYE
  • CABLE HALLMARK and LIFETIME CHRISTMAS movies as well as Christmas baking shows – BUDDY VS. DUFF, HOLIDAY WARS, CHRISTMAS COOKIE CHALLENGE, HOLIDAY BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP

A friend recently posted this The Tourist Map of Literature site on facebook and it’s pretty interesting if you’re looking for new authors to read. Check it out if you’re looking for a new read.

I’m still working on some seasonal recipe magazines and tagging the recipes I’d like to make this winter. I also started a new series called Five Island Cove by Jessie Newton, Book number one is ‘The Lighthouse’.

We were at the local family run Christmas Tree Farm to get our Wreaths when they opened on Friday. I just love being in a small town! 😀

We did a charcuterie board with a lot of our favorite things for Thanksgiving eve and really enjoyed it.


with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
THANKSGIVING EGG ROLLS
TURKEY TETRAZINI
REUBEN EGG ROLLS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
GRILLED CHICKEN SKEWERS with PEANUT BUTTER SAUCE
GRILLED SHRIMP PASTA
PAN FRIED STEAK & BAKERS
DESSERT
BLUEBERRY SOUR CREAM CAKE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS week 48 of 2021

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

How is everyone this morning? Number one question – did you take your turkey out of the freezer this morning to thaw in the refrigerator? 😀 Have you done your grocery shopping and are you ready to

I had a SUPER busy week around here preparing for the carpet cleaners that should be here around 9AM. Most of the furniture is in the dining room, kitchen or bathrooms as well as stacked on top of each other to clear a path and make their job easier! Hopefully, it will also make it go faster. I’ll go run errands after their done so I’m out of the house while it dries. A friend recently did her own and ended up sick from the chemicals so I want to be out while it’s drying.

Fortunately I have already done the grocery shopping so can avoid those stores!

I’m also working on My BLOGMAS 2021 list and am ready to dig in just after Thanksgiving this year. I’m so ready for Christmas!

It’s supposed to be a relatively mild week with highs in the 40’s and 50’s and lows in the high 30’s with a little rain starting on Thanksgiving.

Hot water and baby food squeeze

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING after everything dries this afternoon we have to “reassemble” the house 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS some oddball errands, a pedicure, a doctor appointment…
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS nothing this week because of the holiday that won’t wait until next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING November is pretty much a wash, but I’m working on December dinner recipes, some cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange next month and some new gift mix recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • Hallmark Christmas Movies, Christmas Baking shows. It’s A Wonderful Life…

I’m still working on some seasonal recipe magazines and tagging the recipes I’d like to make this winter. I also started a new series called Five Island Cove by Jessie Newton, Book number one is ‘The Lighthouse’.

I just LOVE this old one-lane bridge near us and someone (no one knows who) puts up a new seasonal decoration on both sides of the bridge each month.

AND A FUNNY THIS WEEK

I know I shared this last week also, but it bears repeating with Thanksgiving upon us.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
FRENCH DIPS & TOTS
C.O.R.N.  clean out refrigerator night
CHARCUTERIE BOARD
THANKSGIVING see menu
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS
THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS
*C.O.R.N.  clean out refrigerator night
DESSERT
CRANBERRY APPLE SLAB PIE

  • HONEY LEMON (or ORANGE) PORK CHOPS
  • MEXICAN STREET CORN CHOWDER
  • GREAT GRAN’S CHICKEN & NOODLES

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU & RECIPE LINKS week 47 of 2021

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

Can you believe we are half way through November already? And that Thanksgiving is only 10 days away? Have you bought your turkey yet? On that same line of thinking we’re only 40 days from Christmas. This year sure seems to be FLYING by!

Yesterday was gorgeous and today we’re back to 100% chance of rain. The pond that was near barren just 6 weeks ago has been refilled. There was also a rock slide last Friday from all of last week’s rain that blocked the highway a few miles from our house. I believe that is supposed to reopen later today, but now they’re sating Tuesday. They originally estimate 5-600 cubic yards of debris to remove so they could repair the road. Last I heard it was now over 7,000 cubic yards so it is taking more time.

PICTURE OF SLIDE ON THIS LINK

The rest of this week is supposed to be much cooler and quite wet which is fine by me since I’ll be home and inside working.

I’d like to say last week’s appointment with the chronic care manger went well, but it didn’t even happen… I got to the receptionist to check in and was told the chronic care manager is no longer with the practice and they’ll get back to me when they get a new one. They didn’t even call to tell me the appointment had been canceled! I cannot tell you how infuriated I am with this particular medical practice.

They did get me in with the nurse practitioner o Friday and she ordered my monitor and set into works the specialty referrals I need to go back to the endocrinologist and dermatologist.

I also have a last appointment with my primary care doctor that I love and is the one leaving. I’m hoping to find out what practice she’s going to and see about transferring even though it means it’s 65 miles away. Sometimes small town living is bad… when it comes to not enough decent medical.

So once again I’m having hot water and peach yogurt while waiting for new referrals and monitors to be ordered. The delicate balance between reactive hypoglycemia and dumping syndrome is like walking a tightrope as you move through your day – EVERY day 24/7 and it is absolutely exhausting!

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m half way through deep cleaning the ledges and everything on them in the living room cathedral ceiling area. Whose bright idea was it to do those stupid decorative ledges? Probably some man that didn’t have to think about cleaning them! I’ll spend the week finishing the baseboards and cleaning door jambs and windows so I’ll be ready for the carpet cleaners next Monday.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has a blood donation later today and I’ll drop him off and pick up the few groceries I need for the week. I have a blood draw on Friday, but no other errands as of now.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS Most things are on hold this week as I do the physical labor to get ready for next week. I’ll concentrate more on this category next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Everything is planned through November and I’m working on some new recipes for December and a cookie exchange I’ll be participating in.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We’re “ALMOST” caught up on everything that was on the DVR during our trip and have been trying to watch all the new episodes as appropriate.

I’ve been reading some seasonal recipe magazines and tagging the recipes I’d like to make this winter. I also started a new series called Five Island Cove by Jessie Newton, but haven’t really gotten far enough into it to say whether I like it or not. Book number one is ‘The Lighthouse’.

I’ve also been reading up on the power of comfort food. I found a few Scandinavian recipes I plan to make over the winter. They say these recipes will brighten dark days 😀 Recipes like, Apple and Cinnamon Cake, Norwegian Cream Buns, Auntie Inga’s ‘Kladdaka’ aka sticky chocolate cake and Kanelbullar aka real cinnamon buns.

I’d really like to know the history, (no pun intended) of this billboard off the highway near where we live.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
PAN SEARED CHICKEN with MASHED POTATOES & BUTTERMILK POBLANO GRAVY
LOADED HASH BROWN POTATO SOUP
ONE POT CHEESEBURGER PASTA
COMPANY CHICKEN & BROCCOLI SUN DRIED TOMATO RISOTTO
GRILLED PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES and BOOZY CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP
HONEY ORANGE PORK CHOPS and RICE PILAF
CAST IRON MEATLOAF and BAKED POTATOES
DESSERT
APPLE PEAR CAKE

We updated the Thanksgiving menu a bit – just decided there was too much food on it so we simplified to our favorite recipes. 😀

  • GRAN’S APPLE CAKE aka HARVEST CAKE
  • PORK BELLY & CARAMELIZED PEARS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 46 of 2021

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

Did you remember to set your clocks back? I did, but my body didn’t get the message so I was WIDE awake at 5AM on a Sunday! Oh well, I got a lot done and was happy for the extra time. 😀

I’m anxious to jump into some normalcy and begin this holiday season! I started with our local Harvest craft fair last Saturday and did a bunch of Christmas shopping while supporting local artists. The Christmas holiday fair is in a month and I will support it also. Entry into both fairs is canned goods for the food drive which I highly support.

I also have everything gift wrapped to date which is such a relief to be ahead of the game. I even have the Christmas cards started 😀

While we didn’t have “luck” on finding a new project home this trip YET I’m a believer in things happening for a reason and know what is supposed to be will be in time so I’m okay with it. It is prompting me to spend the winter sorting and planning a HUGE garage sale for spring to downsize when I know things will work out better. I’m hoping by then we have entered the endemic phase of this pandemic and to find a bit of normalcy in the world around us.

The Pacific North West in November and it’s raining, imagine that LOL We’re supposed to be in the 50’s with low in the 40’s all week along with more rain. We needed the rain so bad that I don’t even mind! I love that all the flannel and layers are back with my comfy UGGs.

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a couple loads of laundry to do today and tomorrow and then will begin a DEEP CLEAN from the ceiling down later this week. And by deep clean I mean EVERY light fixture globe, everything on the “decorative” ledges above the living room, the tops of the cupboards etc… I want to get it all done before they come to clean the carpets on the 22nd.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an appointment with the Chronic Care manager FINALLY on Tuesday and the eye doctor on Wednesday. Between being in town on those 2 days I’ll get ALL the errands done. Hubby has a follow up with his doctor Friday afternoon that I need to cancel since the doctor actually called us last Friday afternoon. I also received a letter saying my primary doctor is leaving the area for an area to our north. I have an appointment with her later this month, but I’m going to try and move it up so I can get all my referrals and prescriptions handled. Poor timing for the whole meter fiasco getting handled. I’m hoping whatever practice she’s moving to will take some of her patients – I’ll make the hour drive to stay with her.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I need to get follow up referrals from the primary doctor for the dermatologist and endocrinologist. This was already on the to do list when I received the letter (which was dated 10/25, but not postmarked until 11/4) on Saturday. The practice she’s leaving was on my S**T list already for not meeting my needs as a patient and she was the only saving grace for it. So, I have no regrets leaving them behind by hopefully following her to her new practice or finding another doctor in the area. The jury is still out on the chronic care manager as I have yet to meet her.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Everything is planned through Thanksgiving so I’m taking a rest, despite collecting a few new recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Season 2 Locke & Key
  • CABLE I finished all the Halloween Baking shows and arm beginning on the Holiday ones 😀 I also got caught up on most of the prime time shows from when we were traveling. Oh and Hallmark Christmas movies have begun 😀

I’m working on Kristen Proby’s book #3 Serendipity: A Bayou Magic Novel, but I keep falling asleep before I get but a few paragraphs in.


Hubby and I were both getting a little cabin fever from the recent rain storms so took a drive to a neighboring town and had lunch at a favorite old haunt and did a little antiquing. It was cold, but so good to get out and I actually took a few new pictures.

Buster’s Main Street Cafe where we went is too small and unable to operate under current COVID restrictions, but we were happy to find that several of the downtown businesses have banded together with a local Brewery, Covered Bridge Brewing and are able to still function and stay in business. They deliver your food directly to you at the brewery who in turn serves your drinks and is large enough to have tables that meet the social distancing requirements.

It’s a cute little town and actually has a fun history dating back to the filming of Buster Keaton’s The General in 1926 and John Belushi’s Animal House parade scene down Main Street in 1978. Cottage Grove is also home to many working covered bridges and a go to spot when people are visiting. The covered bridge below is actually only a mile and half from the house and one of my favorites that we use quite often.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
MEATBALLS & PASTA with SALAD
LOADED HASHBROWN POTATO SOUP & BISCUITS
TUNA TARRAGON
S3 PORK CHOPS & VEGGIE
PAPRIKA RUBBED CHICKEN & RICE PILAF
RED CABBAGE SALAD
PAN SEARED CHICKEN with MASHED POTATOES & BUTTERMILK POBLANO GRAVY
DESSERT
CARAMEL MACCHIATO CUPCAKES

  • BEEF STROGANOFF on a BUDGET
  • HONEY BUTTER GARLIC PORK LOIN
  • MELT IN YOUR MOUTH CHICKEN PARMESAN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 45 of 2021

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 you are all doing well and I promise to play a better catch-up game this week now that I’m home! I’m still playing catch-up on mail, laundry, current events/news (so much happened while we were traveling), etc…, but I’m home! As wonderful as the trip was, it’s always good to get back!

Oh my can you believe it is November already? 24 days until Thanksgiving and 54 days until Christmas if you were wondering! I can say that now that Halloween is over. I hope your was great whatever you did. Ours was quiet with about 4 dozen or so kids. At one point we wondered why we heard them coming to the door, but not ringing the bell when we realized they were just taking from the delivery driver bins 😀 We brought those inside so they would ring the bell for the Halloween candy instead. HA HA, It never occurred to me to bring those in.

I was planning on doing BLOGTOBER and BLOGEMBER this year, but honestly will be lucky to do BLOGMAS. I do have high hopes of returning to a more normal blogging in 2022.

We’re back in the cool fall of the Pacific Northwest! I’m absolutely loving it, but need to get my wardrobes changed out to warmer clothes and soon! Highs will be in the low 50’s with the lows in the high 30’s and lots of clouds and rain. Flannel shirts and UGG’s are in! 😀

Hot water and pear applesauce

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Believe it or not, but I’m caught up! I didn’t do laundry the week before we left so that made things worse! I won’t be making that mistake again! Doing a month’s worth of laundry in one weekend is horrible!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has an appointment later today and we have a few errands to run. I have a pedicure tomorrow and will do the grocery shopping and remaining errands the.
  • PROJECTS I’m trying to get ahead of the game this year on Christmas cards and presents being wrapped early and ready for shipping with all the shipping channels being overloaded. I’m also working on the “down sizing” sort for winter so we can do a BIG garage sale in the spring.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I need to go through my desk and play catch up on paperwork as well as a couple phone calls.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I have the menus planned through Thanksgiving, but beyond that I need to go through and decide.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • DVD There is so much to catch up on on the DVR alone that I don’t know where to begin. We made a bit of a dent in it over the rainy weekend.

We got through 12 books of the Jana DeLeon Miss Fortune series while on the trip and I didn’t get much reading done at night, but did finish the 21st book in the series. I’m about to begin the 3rd in the Bayou Magic series by Kristen Proby.

I’m still editing the last of the trip photos, but those of you that follow my Instagram have seen most of them already. I still have the last few days of the trip to go, but hope to get them up on Instagram the next couple days. 😀 One of my most favorite is this old photo booth style composite of lunch with some of our oldest friends 😀 I know I shared it last week, but it’s still one of my favorites 😀

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHICKEN PARMESAN CASSEROLE
1000 ISLAND PORK CHOPS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT and GRANDMA’S APPLE CAKE
MEATBALLS & PASTA with SALAD
HOT ITALIAN SANDWICHES
MEXICAN STREET CORN CHOWDER
PAPRIKA RUBBED CHICKEN
DESSERT

  • PISTACHIO CRUSTED ROCK FISH or HALIBUT
  • ROASTED TOMATILLO CHILI
  • ENCHILADA MEATBALLS, RE-FRIED BEANS & TEX-MEX RICE