BLOG 365.12 ~ HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY ~ week 2 of 2026 ~ with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

The first part of the week was full of errands and trying to get back on track with a routine. My girlfriend and I ventured to the BIG (ha 😂 ha) city on Wednesday to go shopping at the mall and have a nice lunch. Then we stopped at the Chef’s store (Cash & Carry, Smart & Final) to get the food for our Friday dinner and the rest of the month’s shopping for the Eagle’s kitchen. YAY my last time shopping for the kitchen, but at least I was able to set them up for success, now it’s on them to find the wherewithal to follow thru and keep it going “correctly” without getting lazy and short cutting everything which unfortunately is the tendancy. Thursday was the shopping for the Eagle’s bar, my girlfriend’s bar & grill and some food prep for Friday’s meal.

I cannot believe the first full week of January flew by that quickly! I NEED things to slow down a bit so I can catch up!

We’re NOT really college football watchers other than the Rose Bowl, but we live in a small town only an hour or so away from the Oregon University Ducks, so they are a BIG deal around here. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, they played Friday evening during the Auxiliary charity dinner that my girl friend and I were preparing so we ended up twice as busy as we’ve been in recent months. The unfortunate part is that we didn’t plan for that many people, but, the fortunate part is that we SOLD OUT and didn’t have leftovers 🙂

Saturday I was finally able to get my own shopping and errands accomplished and picked up some fried chicken for lunch on the way back so hubby and I could watch WILD CARD NFL games. 4 of the 5 times we rooted for won 🙂 Sunday was more football with friends and then some relaxing before the week started all over again. I did get some meal planning done and a few odd organizational tasks accomplished.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Last Friday we finally woke to the first snow of the winter, NOT on the valley floor, but absolutely beautiful none the less on the hills around us. Our rain is gone for the next week or so, but it’s not full sun either. All week should be highs in the 40’s with lows in the low 30’s. Lots of layering still going on here.

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is done and I’m hoping to finish the holiday clean-up today 🙂
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Up to date on my personal shopping. I just have the business shopping to do. I have 2 meetings today, but may skip them both under the current political climate. I was going to skip the 2nd one anyway to go and support my friend’s new “Trivia Night” at the bar and grill she manages. But… ??????
PROJECTS & TRAVELS Need to make reservations for the trip next month.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on a couple of new and unusual recipes to combat winter doldrums of the same old soup and stew flavor profile.
DVR/TV We watched BEST MEDICINE last week and will give it another try this week, but so far it isn’t as good as the original, DOC MARTIN. Also have a few cooking shows to catch up on as well as the regular season shows that have started again.
THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY A rainy Sunday in yoga pants, fuzzy socks and Football… brunch with good friends and Football… puppy kisses… clean sheets and cozy quilt…
ON MY MIND I’m not technically an officer at the Eagles, but I do have many responsibilities and am the “back up” secretary for my friend. She asked me to go to the officer’s meeting today in her place and I’m a bit concerned about saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. From a business standpoint there are some really poor choices being made and as the saying goes, you can read the writing on the wall if they follow down this path. But, as the other saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink…Que sera…

READING TIME

Book club was kind of a wash I guess and they haven’t picked a new book ::SIGH:: so I’ve just bee reading whatever strikes my fancy. Right now I’m reading WHY I HOLD YOUR HAND by Augusta Reily.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	1/12 MONDAY	1/13 TUESDAY	1/14 WEDNESDAY	1/15 THURSDAY	1/16 FRIDAY	1/17 SATURDAY	1/18 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORN/YOYO	BEST MEATBALLS and PASTA	MARRY ME CHICKEN & NOODLES	ASIAN POT PIE and SALAD	CORN/YOYO	CHICKEN FETTUCCINE CARBONARA	ORICIETTE with BROWN BUTTER WALNUT SAUCE
DESSERT			PUMPKIN APPLE POKE CAKE