GARBAGE TRUCK RULE

EVERY time this story makes its way into my inbox, I smile.  I smile because it is SOOOOOOOO true.

GARBAGE TRUCK RULE

One day, I hopped into a taxi and took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly, a black car, jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed the brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!” This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck’

He explained, “Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. NEVER take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on with the routine life.” Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so…… ‘Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don’t.’

Life is 10% what you make and 90% how you take!

HAPPY HOMEMAKER and MENU PLAN MONDAY week 7 of 2017

It’s week 7 of 2017 and I have to say week 6 was so horrible I want a MULLIGAN!  We had a lot of family tragedy this past week with multiple new cancer diagnoses, one of which is very grim, my favorite BIL being entered into hospice for his cancer, the very sudden passing of a dear friend and just plain malaise because of it all. since I still feel so poorly. I’m ready for a GOOD week.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It has been quite gray and cloudy and extremely warm again, but we’re supposed to cool off the next several days and actually have some rain too.  If it’s going to be gray and cloudy anyway, I WANT rain!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

A scrambled egg, toast and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

The house is quite put together considering how out of it I have been recently.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • The new tile guy came (45 minutes late) to give us an estimate to complete the master shower this past weekend and it was OUTRAGEOUS!!  He’s not even licensed or bonded! and his bid was 3 times as high as any of the licensed and bonded contractors!  So, I did some research and we found a product available at home depot that will refresh the existing grout.  I’ve been working for several days on cleaning the individual grout lines (and there are a ton of them with the tiny tiles) which I should finish this morning and then I will use the POLYBLEND GROUT RENEW in DELOREAN GRAY.  If all goes well, Friday morning we will be showering in there again instead of the spare bathroom!
  • I also spent some time working in the studio last week and believe it or not am making headway!
  • Standard cleaning, vacuuming, and laundry.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

I’ve been catching up on my cooking shows.  I LOVE Guy’s Grocery Games, Guy’s BIG Bite, Valerie’s Home Cooking, Diners Drive-ins and Dives.

I’m also still reading the OKLAHOMA BRANDS series by Maggie Shayne.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS

Hubby actually helped me with several parts of some Christmas presents that are FINALLY in the works.  They were supposed to be ready for 2016, but obviously they will be 2017 instead.  I’ll be sharing some pictures soon as the ieces come together.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in the CLOUDS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
LEMON SPAGHETTI with SHRIMP
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CACCIATORE with BUTTERED PARSLEY NOODLES
C.O.R.N.
PAN SEARED LEMON PEPPER CHICKEN and PARMESAN GNICCHI
RECIPE EXPERIMENT NIGHT
OVEN BAKED TACOS and SAKAD
MEATLOAF with PARMESAN MASHED POTATOES & BROCCOLI
DESSERT
  TIRAMISU PUDDING CAKE  TIRAMISU CAKE  CHOCOLATE CHIP CANNOLI

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

ON MY MIND

With all the sadness going on in my life right now I have really been thinking about trying harder to stay positive and appreciate life more.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

I couldn’t decide which picture was my favorite.  The sunset Wednesday night was absolutely beautiful, but I also loved Tuxedo in the neighbor’s palm tree.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

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HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 5 of 2017

I hope everyone had a wonderful week. I’m still a bit under the weather, but trying my best to get life back on track!  Making a plan for the week seems to help.
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

The weather has been beautiful and crisp the past week.  We really needed that so the roof had time to dry out from that horrible leak we had the day we received 5 inches in 3 hours.  The roofer was here last Saturday and believes he fixed the problem, but only the next rain storm will tell.  The weather this week is supposed to be about 5 degrees warmer, but just as beautiful.  I hope it lasts as we are still waiting on the masonry guy to come fix the bricks on the back of the house.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

Coffee and toast is all that seems appealing this morning.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

The house doesn’t actually look bad, but does look like I’ve been under the weather.  It has that lived in look that needs sprucing up which is exactly where I will start the week before I run out of energy.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

1/30 MONDAY

  • Phone Calls
  • Paperwork
  • Errands
  • Laundry
  • Cleaning
  • Vacuuming

1/31 TUESDAY

  • Start prep on Master Shower for contractor to refinish – we’re saving a ton of money ($350) by doing the prep work ourselves.
  • Caulk Atrium windows

2/1 WEDNESDAY

  • Pest Control to get started on the Spring regime
  • Order sand for delivery
  • Central Market for hubby’s favorite pepperoncinis and a few favorite cooking oils and spices.

2/2 THURSDAY

  • 6 year cancerversary celebratory lunch trying a new restaurant
  • IKEA for a small spice cabinet to match the one I already have as I have finished combining, sorting and purging the spices.

2/3 FRIDAY

  • Contractor here to refinish shower so I have to be somewhere, anywhere else as I can’t be around the toxic fumes due to my compromised respiratory system.

2/4 SATURDAY

  • Studio!!!!!!!!!!

2/5 SUNDAY

  • SUPERBOWL LI – FALCONS vs. PATRIOTS

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

  • BIG BANG THEORY
  • WHEN CALLS THE HEART
  • PURE GENIUS
  • NCIS
  • BLUE BLOODS
  • THIS IS US
  • GRIMM
  • THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE
  • GOLIATH
  • BULL
  • SCORPION
  • SUPERGIRL
  • CHICAGO MED, PD, FIRE
  • HEARTLAND
  • HEART OF DIXIE
  • STRANGER THINGS
  • Z-NATION
  • DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
  • MADAM SECRETARY
  • ONCE UPON A TIME
  • CHESAPEAKE SHORES
  • ICE PILOTS
  • ETC……. I’m sure I forgot a few…

READING
Secrets and Lies ~ THE OKLAHOMA BRANDS #3 by Maggie Shayne 

CRAFTS & PROJECTS

I’m working my way towards the corner of the studio so I can finish a small sampler quilt (all it needs is binding) that matches the large quilt in the living room and will hang on the new quilt bar my mom got me for Christmas.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST

YOGURT & FRUIT

SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

YOGURT & FRUIT

MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS

PANCAKE LASAGNA

BACON & EGGS

LUNCH

FRUIT & CHEESE

SOUP & CRACKERS

SANDWICH

OUT

MEAT & CHEESE

LEFTOVERS

SANDWICHES

DINNER

C.O.R.N.

BEEF STROGANOFF

DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

ON MY MIND

I am so tired of all the political “screaming” and protesting.  I have been trying to find positive things to latch onto instead.  I ran across a historical woman the other day that really spoke to me about courage.  Nancy Wake, ever heard of her?  Me either and I have a Women’s Studies minor. She was a woman of conviction who made a major effort to WWII.  Here is the link to Nancy Wake and well worth the read.  Another woman worth your time was Septima Clark. Septima Clark made a major difference in the South by teaching blacks to read so they could gain their voting rights.

On another note, so many iconic actors and actresses have passed away recently.  Mary Tyler Moore is affecting me the most for so many reasons and so many shows from my early years, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda and the old black & white Dick Van Dyke Shows, but one movie which wasn’t her best, but resonates with me right now because of the content is Finnegan Begin Again which starred her, Robert Preston and Sam Waterston. It was about a man (Robert Preston) who is retired and taking care of his senile wife. He can’t get her to allow him to throw anything out and their house has become unmanageable. He meets a woman, Mary Tyler Moore who is dating a man, Sam Waterston with whom she is hopelessly mismatched. They become confidants and each allows the other to share their life and experiences with them. The movie was cute, but the scenes where Mary and Robert rig up a trash chute from the second story to get rid of his wife’s pack rat items is what really resonates with me.  And because she was senile they had to go through EVERYTHING before tossing it because she hid things inside of things which is what really reminds me of this place!

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Organization!
  • ELIMINATING things from my life!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

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HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 4 of 2017

As many of you know I have been working to get my new website, Chasing MY Life, up and running.  Well, it’s up and it’s running.  It still needs some tweaking, but all in good time. I will mirror post for awhile and eventually just use Savory Kitchen Table as my personal recipe box. Tell me what you think about the new site.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We have had a torrential week of rain with major flooding in the area.  Fortunately we have not been flooded here in the house, only the garage, but we did end up with 2 fairly severe leaks that make me think of the old house in It’s A Wonderful Life when they first moved in.  All I can say is thank god for beach towels and buckets!  Hubby is waiting for things to dry out a bit so we can assess the damage and do the repairs.  Once the rain moved through we ended up with severe winds that required emptying the backyard of anything not nailed down, but on the up side it’s helping to dry things off up on the roof.

Today though is GORGEOUS! We are supposed to be sunny all week.  Unfortunately this close to the coast I NEVER bank on anything.  The torrential rain we had last week occurred while we were only under a 20% chance of rain and those days started out gorgeous too.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

Ensure clear and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

It looks pretty good.  I had a very productive week stuck inside last week’s rain.  I was able to go through the baking cabinet and the linen closet and took another 5 bags to the women’s shelter.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

I’ve been down with laryngitis and a cold or something last week also so will take it fairly easy this week.  With NO immunity because of the SLE hubby thinks I picked up a bug from all the digging in the filthy dirt (the local cats as well as my cousin’s cats had been using that area as a BIG cat box) it last week. I wore gloves, but evidently that wasn’t enough.

  • Paperwork
  • EBAY
  • Phone Calls
  • Make appointments
  • Sort China Cabinets
  • ERRANDS

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

  • BIG BANG THEORY
  • WHEN CALLS THE HEART
  • PURE GENIUS
  • NCIS
  • BLUE BLOODS
  • THIS IS US
  • GRIMM
  • THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE
  • GOLIATH
  • BULL
  • SCORPION
  • SUPERGIRL
  • CHICAGO MED, PD, FIRE
  • HEARTLAND
  • HEART OF DIXIE
  • STRANGER THINGS
  • Z-NATION
  • DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
  • MADAM SECRETARY
  • ONCE UPON A TIME
  • CHESAPEAKE SHORES
  • ICE PILOTS
  • ETC……. I’m sure I forgot a few…

READING

CRAFTS & PROJECTS

Probably nothing this week, but hopefully soon.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

BREAKFAST

YOGURT & FRUIT

SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE

FRUIT SMOOTHIE

YOGURT & FRUIT

MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS

PANCAKES

BACON & EGGS

LUNCH

FRUIT & CHEESE

SOUP & CRACKERS

SANDWICH

OUT

MEAT & CHEESE

LEFTOVERS

SANDWICHES

DINNER

GARLIC WINE CHICKEN

PEPPERONI MAC & CHEESE

C.O.R.N.

CHICKEN with MAGGI CREAM SAUCE

SLOPPY JOES

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN

WHITE CHICKEN LASAGNA

DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

  • 5 CHEESE GOURMET MAC & CHEESE
  • PARMESAN ROASTED CARROTS (recipe to come this week)

  • GARLIC CREAM CHICKEN (recipe to come this week)

  • SHEET PAN SWEDISH MEATBALLS (recipe to come this week)

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPSHOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Between storms hubby kept plugging away on the fencing.  He was able to get the new downspout area done which I for some reason did not yet get a picture of as well as this section near the utilities.  Eventually there will be a short privacy fence keeping all these utility pieces out of sight.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

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HAPPY HOMEMAKER and MENU PLAN MONDAY

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS. It always seems so much better to me when Christmas falls on the weekend. We had a quiet weekend with just the 2 of us, football, church and a Christmas party on Saturday.  Christmas day was just us so I made a small Tropical pork roast with Potatoes AuGratin and maple glazed Brussels sprouts with cherry pie galette for dessert. We also watched my obligatory seasonal favorites It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), White Christmas (1954) and the original Home Alone (1990). Our family will be here to celebrate tomorrow.

Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel played a YULE LOG with puppies, kittens, and Christmas music for 24 hours which made good background.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
Unfortunately it’s gray and warm with thunderstorms. I spent the entire Christmas season missing snow and cold.  I am really looking forward to next year being back in the Pacific Northwest or the North woods or somewhere cooler than here. I hope.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Some spam and scrambled eggs.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m pretty happy.  Just a couple loads of laundry, vacuuming and general cleaning before family gets here for “Christmas”.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS
Nothing but enjoy family and help Carlie get settled in.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
I will finish up the Christmas movies on the DVR and hope to start a new book now that the holidays are quieter.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
I’m going to start working on the studio in earnest after the first and hope to be “CRAFT READY” by the time we get back from our spring trip in April. This will be our first trip seeking out our final project house so we can leave this HOUSE FROM HELL behind us and settle for a long while.

KITCHEN WISHES
My Kitchen Aid Mixer is starting to give up the ghost.  As sad as that is, I have used it A LOT and for 23 years next month.  I purchased a professional model after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake demolished my kitchen and EVERYTHING in it as well as the rest of the house.  So, I guess I got my money’s worth, I’ve even painted it twice, but I will be sorry to see it go. I’m thinking about this pretty silver one. It’s not the professional model, but I do love the glass bowl! Glass bowls are so much easier to see that things are mixed well on the bottom.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
BREAKFAST CASSEROLE
PUMPKIN BREAD FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
C.O.R.N.
C.O.R.N.
PANCAKES, BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
??
??
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N.
ALOHA BBQ RIBS, WAGON WHEEL BEANS and CROCK POT LOADED POTATOES BACON & EGGS 
??
OUT
FREEZER SURPRISE
GRILLED STEAKS, BAKED POTATOES and CORN ON THE COB (hubby’s request for New Year’s Eve  at home)
BLACK EYED-PEA CHILI
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY
January will be “GET A BACKYARD MONTH” and that is making me very happy!  There are only a few months of the year you can use a patio here, at least in my opinion, and February through April are it.  The backyard was just like the house and garage – completely overrun with a hoarders dream – STUFF.  It also had some structural issues that will need to be addressed first which will require a pallet of sand bags to be delivered to begin leveling it out.  We found this past week that the fence is riddled with termites so hubby has already started changing out the fence board by board.  All in ALL this will be a simpler project in concept, but harder in back breaking effort.  I also found a shade cloth that fits perfectly so we will be installing that too.  I will be thrilled if we can get the shade cloth, sand and fence done in January so we can lay pavers and sod in February.  That leaves March for sealing the garage floor.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

I always have a lot of fun doing a long distance version of elf on the shelf for my favorite munchkins.  This year was twin elves, Ralph and Walter (names were borrowed from the show Scorpion). They made their way to Oregon in time for a Christmas surprise visit with their cousin Sam who spent last year with us before making his way to Oregon in time for Christmas 2015.

We had fun opening our gifts and stockings.  I especially love Sammy the owl and my new picture book from my favorite munchkins.

I LOVE my new glass art ornament from my brother and SIL – so cute.
INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving! Ours got a little mixed up and we actually ended up working part of the day before heading over to my uncle’s house for dinner.  LOL he called and said he was putting in the turkey (it was smoked and just needed to warm) and heading for a shower.  We were going to originally eat between 1 and 2 o’clock, but he and my aunt got hung up at church when they dropped off the turkeys they had prepared for the meal for the needy and next thing you know it’s 2 o’clock and they were just getting home.  Hubs and I got there and my uncle was still in the shower and my aunt (who has Alzeimer’s) was so surprised to see us.  After all the work at the church she forgot it was Thanksgiving and that anyone was coming over.  My cousin showed up shortly after we did and it occurred to us that we weren’t smelling turkey.  Long story short, as if that’s possible, Kevy and I started trying to throw together dinner.  He peeled potatoes and I cut.  We threw the turkey in to warm and started a search for a vegetable.  As the potatoes finished boiling, I drained them and he went for the milk.  LOL there was NO milk! Then we could find the mixer, but NO beaters. We ended up using Redi whip (made with real cream) and butter and they were good! It was NOT a conventional meal, but we had a good time and laughed A LOT!

WEATHER OUTSIDE
It turned cold on Saturday and rainy too. Looks like winter is finally here.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
Lots and lots, but I find I do better with making lists!

  • Monday – Measure for the new bedroom window and get it ordered.  Finish wrapping the Christmas presents that need to be mailed, get them boxed up and addressed.  Start patch work in the bedroom and the carpet guy will be here to measure in the afternoon.
  • Tuesday – The electrician will be here to look at our screwy wiring and it’s trash day so have to be available to help the guys and give them their beer and soda.
  • Wednesday – We’re taking the day to visit all the Habitat for Humanity Restores in the area to seek out necessary parts we need, pick up the cleaning and do the grocery shopping.
  • Thursday – finish patch work on bedroom and begin removing vanity and kitchen cabinets for the dumpster which should arrive in the afternoon.
  • Friday – Load dumpster and it will probably take ALL day.
  • Saturday – Finish wrecking out and/or loading the dumpster!
  • Sundaytaking the day OFF! When we did our last remodel hubby set a rule that we would quit by 6PM every day and Sundays were to be days where we only did what we wanted and I didn’t cook.  The didn’t cook part didn’t last as I finally convinced him that cooking was something I wanted to do!

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
We’re catching up on a few movies we had been wanting to see and not much else – just too tired at the end of the day.

HOUSE PROJECTS
We are trying to finish the bedroom and the kitchen before Christmas.  If we are lucky that will extend to the living room, but I really doubt it.  So far each project seems to be plagued by the domino effect and each task is more difficult than it should be.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
Crockpot Lasagna
C.O.R.N.
C.O.R.N.
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • wrapping gifts for my favorite munchkins
  • getting closer to sleeping in my own bed
  • cooler weather 

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

We are closing in on 19 days since we arrived. To date hubs and I have logged 332 hours. We have found the house and there is only one LARGE piece left in the house to be moved and we found most of the side yard this weekend while preparing for the foundation work that begins tomorrow, but we have yet to find the garage!

We are beginning to see the light AND the potential again, but we ARE overwhelmed to say the least.  We knew it needed work, but until we got here and were able to get her things out we, including my uncle, had NO idea how much work.

We have decided that as soon as the foundation work is done we will do the master bedroom and bath first.  At least that way at the end of a hard day we will have a place of respite where we can close ourselves off from the rest of the work to be done.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
I noticed last night that I could see the stars to the east, but the clouds were beginning to shroud the moon to the west and then this morning the clouds are thick as mud so I think I believe them this time that there is a serious storm headed our way – right along with a tornado watch.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Shift furniture and boxes as needed for the foundation crew.
  • Try and find a few necessary cooking utensils I’m still missing.
  • Start removing carpet in manageable pieces where the non-carpet flooring will be installed.

CURRENTLY READING  
I have been too tired to do much more than fall in bed after the 10-15 hour days of serious manual labor recently, but am hoping to finish this book soon.

TELEVISION / DVR
LOL who has time?  We also can’t get internet and TV until after the foundation work is completed this week so have seen a few DVDs in the little down time we have forced ourselves to take.

HOUSE PROJECTS
I will have to keep you posted on this category.  There is so much to do that we are still trying to make a priority list for after the bedroom!

KITCHEN WISHES
LOL this category is HUGE right now, but I am getting my new refrigerator on Friday!
 
MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
Since it will be awhile before the kitchen is up and running I went looking for my cookbook box, more specifically for the cookbook box with the slow cooker cookbooks in it. We tried one last night that I am now calling Italian Ham and potatoes. LOL I had to adapt it though. Despite the title of the cookbook, Slow-Cooker Cookbook, I found after I bought the ingredients it was actually a recipe for the oven.  I was a bit more careful in reading the recipes for the rest of the week.


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
TOAST & YOGURT


AVALON DINER
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
??
DINNER
GARLIC   CHICKEN
BRAISED HORSERADISH BEEF
C.O.R.N.
BOSTON BAKED BEANS & PORK
SLOW BAKED BEEF with POTATO CRUST
CHICKEN IN SMOKY BACON SAUCE
APPLE & CIDER CHICKEN & VEGGIES
DESSERT






THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Working side by side with hubby to make a better life.
  • Seeing potential in the house and backyard.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
The neighbor’s cat just loves sunbathing on the roof and will spend all day in the same place.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Well after 3 delays for various reasons, we really are finally on the road to our new home.  This has been a complicated move with multiple legs, but at last we are moving forward.  We will be there on Wednesday and then the fun begins.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
Tonight is supposed to be quite cold where we will be staying on the northern route in mountains, but after that it should be good weather for several days.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
Get there and get started on a thorough cleaning, paint prep and a project list!

CURRENTLY READING
I’ve been loading up my kindle app with lots of books for the trip.  Right now I’m finishing up the Barbara Freethy Series – The Callaways – I’m on books 8 and 9.

TELEVISION / DVR
LOL Whatever is on the motel televisions at night. I know we’ll be doing some on demand later in the month to catch up on our favorite shows.

KITCHEN WISHES
LOL, My biggest wish is that the appliances work well enough to get us started.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
On the road this week, but hoping to have a good menu next week.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

  • New Beginnings
  • Safe Trips
  • Happy Campers

FAVORITE most disgusting PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
One of the things I have always hated here were the snails and slugs!  I took the dog out last night and was horrified to see this! I had NO idea that they congregated like this. YUCK!!

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We are warming up this week again to temperatures I thought were in our rear view mirror and I DON’T like it one bit! At least the evenings after the sun sets are really cool!

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Rotate Tires on the Truck
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Drop off dry Cleaning
  • Update Computers and Cyber Clean

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Still trying some of the new shows this week as well as some of the old favorites. As always though we’ll DVR them.  We just don’t have as much leisure to watch them with the move about to happen so we’ll have to .

  • BIG BANG
  • LIFE IN PIECES
  • CASTLE
  • LAW & ORDER SVU 
  • NCIS
  • NCIS LA
  • NCIS NEW OELEANS
  • SCORPION
  • THE PLAYER
  • THE BLINDSPOT
  • QUANTICO
  • THE STRAIN
  • Z NATION
  • SCANDAL 
  • CSY CYBER


MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
Y.O.Y.O.
CHICKEN PICATTA & SALAD
C.O.R.N.
??
TUNA CASSERILE
STEAK & BAKERS
CHILE & CORNBREAD
DESSERT






ON MY MIND
As you all know we will be leaving here soon to rehab my grandparent’s house in Texas and on Thursday I was pretty happy thinking about that as I silently celebrated grams 100th birthday in my mind with wonderful memories of her and ALL she taught me in life and wishing I was already in her house doing my projects and cooking her recipes…  Then the bottom fell out of our local world as my neighbor stopped us on our way out of the driveway and said “DON’T GO TO TOWN THERE’S A SHOOTING AT THE COLLEGE”I have to admit at first I was dazed and thinking WTH? HERE? WHAT? REALLY?  You see we’re a sleepy little community, not a big city, not a hub of political activity, just small rural town America. This has been a horrific week here in our community.

article

I whole heartily agree with this sheriff’s decision to ignore the coward, HE DOES NOT DESERVE RECOGNITION – WE DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HIS NAME or anything about him-that is for the authorities and their investigation. If you need names, learn the names of the victims, the heroes like Chris Mintz and first responders that dealt with the aftermath. These are the important people in this tragedy. The fact that the shooter committed suicide means he was a chicken to me.

As horrific as this tragedy has been to our community, it is heart warming to see the spark it has brought to  the community response to help others. Banks, have set up generous funds and matching donation programs, Coffee houses are giving free coffee, even the pubs are offering free pints for giving a pint of blood, neighbors setting up meal plan programs for victims and their families, pay it forwards that go ALL day in fast food lines…  There must have been several hundred people in the blood bank line at any given time before they finally had to start turning people away due to a lack of storage facilities, local businesses setting up victim funds… Here is a link to ways you can help. Healing will take time, time that can and should be clad in human compassion and warm hearts to help others.

I PRAY that these attitudes become long term and daily reminders that we are all in this life together. On the flip side I am sickened by the politicians and legislators that are trying to use this as a soapbox for gun control and personal beliefs. The following picture kind of says it all:

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • SEEING THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER & HELP OTHERS DURING A TIME OF NEED
  • My cat curling up to cuddle with me in the morning
  • Finishing projects

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Sady catching the last possible afternoon rays of sunshine.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Looks like we have a definitive move date (FINALLY!) Unfortunately it leaves me twiddling my thumbs for a few extra weeks so I will be catching up on my reading!

WEATHER OUTSIDE
Fortunately the evenings have been super cool making for wonderful sleeping and the days are starting to cool a bit too.  By the time we leave it’ll be perfect LOL

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Whiskey to the groomer
  • Groceries
  • Cleaning 
  • Laundry

CURRENTLY READING 

  • Hurricane Force byJana DeLeon
  • The Secret Life of Wishful Thinking by Lindy DeKoven
  • Tea and Comfort by Andrea Hurst
  • The Sweetness of Honey by Alison Kent

TELEVISION / DVR
The jury is still out on some of the new shows, but some of the old favorites are great.

  • Minority Report
  • Big Bang Theory
  • Life in Pieces?
  • NCIS
  • NCIS NOLO
  • Blue Bloods
  • Criminal Minds
  • Law & Order SVU
  • Castle

HOUSE PROJECTS
Can’t wait to get this show on the road so I can begin sharing all the updates we will be doing on the new house.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
C.O.R.N.
MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
DESSERT






THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY 

  • An extra month with my favorite munchkins
  • Plans that come together
  • A good night’s sleep

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Sady hanging out with dad during football.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I’ve been in a holding pattern for so long now with our impending move next week in 2 weeks (I hope – it’s been postponed twice so far for various reasons) that I feel like I’m just going through the motions each day and there is no real “Homemaking” going on right now.  So this week while we wait to leave next Monday (please cross your fingers and toes for us) I’m making a detailed list of what needs to be done when we get there.

We’re buying my grandparents old place (40 years old) which has been sitting vacant for almost a year and hasn’t had any real improvements in the 20+ years before that.  So, we know it’s a serious fixer and definitely needs a kitchen update, but we love remodeling and projects and our aim is to change the dated kitchen into a farmhouse style, but also make it a 21st century kitchen.

Oh, and did I mention we’re doing this from across the country?  Hubby has never even seen the house and I haven’t been there in many years since my cousin was living there.  We are also transporting 3 animals with a multi stop move gathering the things from storage in 2 different states from the last 6 years along the way?

WEATHER OUTSIDE
The weather was warm over the weekend again, but cooling back down into some more fall like temperatures as the week moves on.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
A little of this and a little of that, but nothing horribly specific.

CURRENTLY READING
I’ve been loading up my kindle app with lots of books for the trip.  Right now I’m finishing up the Barbara Freethy Series – The Callaways – I’m on books 8 and 9.

I’m also reading Fatal Frenzy by Marie Force.

TELEVISION / DVR
A good deal of the new shows begin this week as well as some of the old favorites. As always though we’ll DVR them.  We just don’t have as much leisure to watch them with the move about to happen so we’ll have to .

  • BIG BANG
  • CASTLE
  • LAW & ORDER SVU 
  • NCIS
  • NCIS LA
  • NCIS NEW OELEANS
  • SCORPION
  • THE PLAYER
  • THE BLINDSPOT
  • QUANTICO
  • SCANDAL

CRAFTS, PROJECTS & HOUSE PROJECTS
We will probably need to move a few pieces of furniture for my aunt and uncle when we get there, but after that we’ll spend the first 2 days doing SERIOUS cleaning.  I love my cousin, but she was not a “homemaker” per se and didn’t tend to notice the dust and such.  On one of these days we’re hoping to get the cable and internet hooked up.  We have also set a STOP time for each day of 6PM.  On one of our prior moves we didn’t do this and we were just SOOOO exhausted all the time that we thought it was for our sake of sanity that we begin doing this.

On the 3rd day we plan to do the shopping.  The lists are about 95% made.  I even have the store, addresses and mapquest ready to make the day go smoother.  Pizza and fast food will be fine for the first couple days, but after that we have to get some real food in the house as well as buy the paint for the next project.

We know the house needs paint from top to bottom, ALL flooring and new appliances, but we’re going to start with the easy (but hubby’s least favorite) part, painting.

Day 4 we plan to paint the bedroom, master bath and walk in closet.  We’re going to go with a bright white for the ceilings and and more of an eggshell for the walls.  We prefer to add color with things other than the paint so it easily changed if we so choose. There are a couple of door changes going to happen in this room as well as closet organization, but I’ll wait to show you that later.

Day 5 we plan to paint the living room and dining room area, but it may take 2 days with the cathedral ceilings and size so we’ll add day 6 in here also. Right now the dining room is separate from the kitchen which is small with limited storage, but when we get done the kitchen dining will be a large open air farmhouse like all in one.  The kitchen dining is also just off the living room so when we are done our aim is a to have a grand room effect for a more cozy, homey family style room.  The old dining room is where we will start with adding the new cabinets so when we unpack we have a place to put things.  I also have some serious plans for redoing the laundry, adding a laundry chute from the master bedroom area and updating the pantry.

Day 7 the trucks are supposed to arrive.  We will have already cleaned the spare rooms and our plan is to put the boxes in each of these rooms so we aren’t living in a sea of boxes ALL the time. We hired guys to empty the trucks and that will certainly make life a lot simpler.

Once the master bedroom and living room are done, the rest will seem much simpler.  Having a place to relax at the end of the day, whether it is watching football in the living room or going to sleep at the end of a long hard day makes any remodel so much easier. Stay tuned for pictures and the tweaks to make this place our own, functional, homey and part of the 21st century.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
SALISBURY STEAK & MASHED POTATOES & ASPARAGUS
C.O.R.N.
CHICKEN PICATTA & GARLIC PASTA with HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE
STUFFED CHEDDAR APPLE CHICKEN and SALAD
TOMATO SPINACH SOUP & GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES
DESSERT


SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

  • Whiskey (my dog) sleeping curled up around my feet
  • Cool Autumn breezes
  • Watching migrating geese

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

My favorite birthday gift started with 4th of July pictures.  
I can’t believe they all kept it a secret for so long! Thank you!

INSPIRATION
As we start this move, I know there are going to be VERY stressful times during the next 10 days while we do a multi stop cross country move.  But, I am REALLY trying to remember that we are going to a good place for all the right reasons and we ARE going to VERY happy after the move part is ALL over.

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.
First and foremost for me this week is a subject very close to my heart AND my life. 
 Be sure and see my AWARENESS post here.

We have a bit of a delay in our move so I’m all packed and am waiting patiently, NOT!  We are trying to stay busy, but that’s not easy with everything packed.  Seems like a vicious circle to me.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
A bit cooler today with the promise of rain that we desperately need before the week is out.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • A couple physical therapy appointments for hubby
  • Laundry 
  • Cleaning
  • Paperwork

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Next week will be the BIG reveal week for the new shows, so this week we’re still trying to clean out the DVR from all the stacked up summer shows.

HOME PROJECTS
After the move and we get settled one of my first projects will be making a garden area something like this:

KITCHEN WISHES
I LOVE enamelware and would love both sizes of these new pans from Pioneer Woman’s new line at Walmart:

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
OUT for my birthday
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES  FROM LAST WEEK

ON MY MIND
We had an encounter with yet another VERY RUDE VA employee this past week.  I have to wonder if they are instructed to make things more difficult than necessary in order to get people to just go away!  It took us over a month of our time and effort to get a prescription situation corrected, a situation that never should have transpired to begin with. Then in the mail came a new bottle of the same damn drug!  We went back to get it corrected AGAIN! and the male nurse was 100% useless and antagonistic.  Funny thing is hubby specifically told him I was there as his advocate and because I had all the dates and information and the man refused!!!! to deal with me even with hubby standing right there telling him differently. Ironically he called me adversarial, which he did NOT see from me. Really? He thought I was being adversarial because I was giving him factual information to correct an error (AGAIN)?  He should know that adversarial would include a formal complaint against him for his attitude and disrespect of a veteran and we would win because I keep a calendar of dates and interactions regarding ALL VA interactions for exactly this reason.  I am not one to allow someone o jut say, oh well, that’s just how it is.  We proceeded to the pharmacy and were able to correct part of the problem at least with a VERY nice gentleman who actually listened and understood the chain of events.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

  • BEING HEALTHY
  • SUCCESSFUL RECIPE EXPERIMENTS
  • HEARING HAPPY STORIES IN THE NEWS

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.