Category: BLOG 365

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPES week 46 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.323

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

WEEKEND RECAP

It was a whirlwind weekend, but a good one that really started on Thursday again. We went to pick up my holiday Hallmark order and made a day of it since the nearest Hallmark is an hour and a half away. Hallmark stores are far and few between here and when the one I normally dealt with closed a family owned and run old time drugstore took over for Hallmark. This drugstore is like an old time Woolworths or TG&Y and so much fun and the woman who runs the Hallmark section is so nice. Because I live so far away she puts back for me anything I need until I can get there. I even one the door prize from last month’s premiere event! So, I picked up a nice little haul to get me in the Christmas spirit.

While we were there we visited a local hardware chain that does their garden area as a Tinsel town for the holidays. We didn’t need much, but it’s always fun to look. I did pick up a white projector light for the new nativity we’re doing this year and some paper white bulbs.

We had a wonderful lunch along the river at a favorite haunt and then did some antiquing on the way back in a favorite store, 5 Flying Monkeys and finished the day with a dinner at another favorite haunt and had a yummy Thankful Thursday turkey dinner. On Thursdays they do Thankful Thursday for veterans, first responders and moms at half price. They rotate meals throughout the year doing either the turkey, pot roast or meatloaf. All three are exceptional! My favorite is the turkey or the pot roast because it comes with the BEST glazed roasted carrots I think I’ve ever had!

Saturday brought the annual craft fair at the community center. I had several friends selling their wares there so that was a lot of fun! Then Sunday was spent with a bestie. I was also able to get a lot of organization done during the weekend as well as catch up on laundry, football and NASCAR as it was super wet and cold ALL weekend.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The first one is probably better for next week, but is also something we should all remember this time of year as we are getting together with friends and family. We should all remember that our differences aren’t as important as our commonalities and love for each other. So enjoy your friends and families over the holidays.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

I’m going to sound like a broken record, but it’s cold, wet and rainy 😀 like always in November. We’ve had a fairly mild autumn up until now, but it feels like winter is going to hit a bit early. Highs this week in the 40’s and 50’s with lows in the 30’s and 40’s. Layers and flannels are a definite for this week.

ON MY MIND

There’s a “GIRLS NIGHT” in a a couple weeks to finish the Jewelry Christmas Trees we began last year. We’ve decided to “simplify” things this year and just order pizza. We’ll each provide a little something else like a favorite cookie, drink makings or ???? I’m thinking of making this cute charcuterie board appetizer board with some crackers. How cute is that?

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got all the laundry done yesterday!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m putting together my list for this week to get all the errands and groceries done this week. Crowds are already crazy around her and I have no inclinations of going near stores the week of Thanksgiving EXCEPT to pick up the turkey from the butcher next Tuesday.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I’m chairing this year for the Eagle’s holiday families and foster kids so have LOTS of paperwork and organizing to do.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are done through November, but I’m starting on December. With the cold we’re having I’m envisioning a lot of soups, stews and chilis.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • STREAMING I’m getting caught up on the things on the DVR FINALLY
  • CABLE I’ve been recording all the new Hallmark Christmas movies and am saving them up for when I start decorating for Christmas.

READING TIME

I joined a book club that started yesterday and we’ll be meeting every 2 weeks. I missed the first meeting, but they chose the book, SOCIETY OF LIES by Lauren Ling Brown. I downloaded the book and started it last night.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/18 MONDAY
11/19 TUESDAY
11/20 WEDNESDAY
11/21 THURSDAY
11/22 FRIDAY
11/23 SATURDAY
11/24 SUNDAY
DINNER
 RB BEANS AND CHARRED HOT DOGS
 BURGERS & CHILI CORNBREAD SALAD
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CHICKEN ALA KING and PEA STUFFING
 COOKING AT THE EAGLES with a FRIEND – BRISKET SANDWICHES, COLESLAW, BAKED BEANS and
 BEEF & BEAN STEW
 GOULASH and ROASTED CARROTS
DESSERT
 
 
NEOPOLITAN CAKE

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

There is a BIG hardware store called Jerry’s here that reminds me of a combination Fleet & Farm plus a Menards that turns their garden area into a Tinsel Town for Christmas. I never need much, but it’s always fun to look. I LOVE how they display their lights making it easy to envision what they’ll look like on your house or project.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • PICKLED PLUM CRUMBLE/CRISP
  • GO TO SLOW COOKER RECIPES ~ BLACK BEAN SALSA CHICKEN, GREEN CHILE CHICKEN, BUTTERMILK RANCH PORK CHOPS and TERIYAKI WINGS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPES week 45 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.316

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

WEEKEND RECAP

AHHHHHH a weekend away was just what the doctor ordered! Last year my girlfriend and I went to a great holiday market at the fairgrounds in the county 100 miles to the south of us. We did it all in one day along with a trip to a HUGE Hobby Lobby and it was A LOT to cram in.

So this year we planned it as a weekend and took hubby along. Unfortunately, the holiday market was not as good as last year, though we did manage to find several of our favorite vendors and start the Christmas shopping with a bang!

We were also able to get in some quality antiquing time as well as some great happy hour time at a Jimmy Buffet hotel we stayed at for Friday and Saturday nights as well as some amazing food at mom and pop restaurants along the way. This picture is silly and so optical illusion like. Dana is 6 inches shorter than I am and didn’t think she could get in and out of this HUGE chair so stood in front, but it makes me like so tiny by comparison 🙂

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

COLD, WET & RAINY! This is the only way to describe this week. And so far, it’s not that normal kind of cold, but the bone chilling kind that makes you feel like you’ll never be warm again! 🙂 So it’s layers time! Highs will start in the 50’s today and tomorrow and then drop into the 40’s with lows in the 30’s along with lots of rain and gray clouds all week.

ON MY MIND

Once again weighted down by Eagle’s responsibilities and dealing with unprepared close minded people. At this point I am committed through the holiday season, but seriously wondering if there isn’t a better way to volunteer my time, talents and money.

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING LOTS to do with being away 3 days!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I will make a list in a bit and get everything done on Wednesday. I have an appointment to the north tomorrow.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have an auxiliary meeting tonight that looks like it’s going to be canceled and some calls to make regarding the stove replacement at the Eagles.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING ??????????? I did get a couple “new” vintage recipe boxes/books with some promising meals soon.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE I’m NOT even sure what recorded while we were gone, so will get caught up over the next few days.
  • STREAMING I’ll finish SCARECROW & MRS KING this week.

READING TIME

I’m reading THE KEEPER OF STORIES by Sally Page.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/11 MONDAY
11/12 TUESDAY
11/13 WEDNESDAY
11/14 THURSDAY
11/15 FRIDAY
11/16 SATURDAY
11/17 SUNDAY
DINNER
 LEMON CHICKEN and RICE SOUP with CRUSTY BREAD
 RB BAKED BEANS and HOT DOGS
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator nigh or you’re on your own
 CHEESEBURGER BALLS, COLESLAW and LEFTOVER RB BAKED BEANS
 CREAMY LEMON PARMESAN CHICKEN, NOODLES and MUSHY PEAS
 CHILI and CORNBREAD
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator nigh or you’re on your own
DESSERT
 
 GINGERBREAD PEAR PUDDING CAKE
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

It’s my FAVORITE time of year!! Burn piles, hay barns and clouds!

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • PEANUT BUTTER BREAD
  • PARMESAN ROASTED GREEN BEANS
  • PORK MEDALLIONS with ONION GRAVY

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPES week 43 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.302

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

WEEKEND RECAP

4-6 PM Saturday was TRUNK or TREAT in our little town. The weather really showed up with a pleasant 71° and sunny which was great because Halloween itself is supposed to be pouring down rain and only 50° so Saturday may be the only Halloween some of these kids see.

TRUNK or TREAT has taken on a life of its own the past couple years. Surrounding towns bring their kids to our little area. It has also become quite an expensive endeavor. The kids have a great time and so do the businesses, but where and how do you draw the line on events like this? Our population is only 8,200 so how is we now have upwards of 2,500 kids participating? We did the math and between the candy, extra employees needed to man the booths and decorations it’s costing the average business between $500-$1,000 or more for a 2 hour event, especially if you’re located near the haunted house where the lines are long.

Sunday rained and the temperature dropped 20° so it was the perfect day to watch NASCAR, read a little and just do what you want kind of day. 😀 We did have a bit of a momentary break in the rain and we went and fed stale bread pieces to the peacocks and the deer that had wandered down into the park.

Let’s get on with Monday!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re supposed to get quite a bit of rain this week which we REALLY need, so I’m okay with that. The highs are supposed to be in the 50’s and 60’s with lows in the 30’s and 40’s.

ON MY MIND

I know Halloween is this week and we haven’t even celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but because Thanksgiving is late this year I am trying to get a jump on ALL things December! BLOGMAS is one of those things that keeps me happy and motivated through the holidays and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

That said, I did condense a bit and I have come up with my BLOGMAS timeline for 2024. Doing as many of the posts in advance that I can also helps me keep my sanity through the busy holiday season. I REALLY hope you can and will join in whenever possible.

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I thought I had finished the laundry and then I realized we were wearing clothes and it wouldn’t stay done 😀 for very long.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m making a list for a very few things I need for this next week. I’ll pick those things up on Thursday when I head in to town for my pedicure appointment.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have a couple calls to make this morning for information for my meeting tonight.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m working on a painted pot and repotting of a Christmas cactus for a friend’s surprise birthday party on Wednesday. And I’m working on a “new” antique set of sewing machine drawers (pictures in the favorite photos section). I made reservations for a weekend getaway with a girl friend for a large Holiday Market we like to go to each year.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING My menus are planned through November, but I’m beginning to research some hearty soups, stews and casseroles for December and January.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • STREAMING We finished watching FRINGE and NIGHT COURT. We’re currently trying to figure out our next binge watches.
  • CABLE I have been taping the new Hallmark Christmas movies, am about to finish the Halloween season of the baking shows and will start the new holiday shows next week.

READING TIME

I started reading RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE by Karma Brown

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
10/28 MONDAY
10/29 TUESDAY
10/30 WEDNESDAY
10/31 THURSDAY
11/1 FRIDAY
11/2 SATURDAY
11/3 SUNDAY
DINNER
 STREET CORN CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
 PEASANT BEEF STEW
RB BAKED BEANS and HOT DOGS
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
 SLOW COOKER LEMON CHICKEN
 GARLIC ONION SLOW COOKER CHICKEN & RICE
 LASAGNA SOUP & GARLIC BREAD
DESSERT
 
 SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIES
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I found a cute “set” of sewing machine drawers at a friends store recently. They even had the rare “secret” top drawer fairly intact. The drawers had been “finished” by her brother, but they were in sad shape with too dry wood, missing drawer guides and “gummy” areas that were dried and yucky. They were also done as two separate units. I’m in the process of rejuvenating them with oil and putting the two towers into a single piece. Hubby is making me a top and a bottom for them, but this is a start for now.

And just a few pictures from the TRUNK or TREAT event. Many of the parents dressed up also. I have to say the Jack Sparrow was one of the more popular ones. He would accept candy from the businesses and then seek out one of the shyer kids to give it to. I also love the BIO HAZARD scarecrow and McDonalds pulled out the stops with their drive through window.

The deer joined the peacocks today for some joint snacking time.

Living in the country gives us some fun local displays for holidays also.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

With Thanksgiving coming up and so many stories in the news of bacterial diseases on the rise I thought it would be helpful to remind us all that food safety is so very important.

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS