Category: BLOG 365

SPRING QUARTERLY LIST for 2023 ~BLOG 365.80

When I took one of those silly Facebook games last December it said my word was RESILIENCE, but I liked PROGRESS better. So decided both words for RESILIENT PROGRESS were better! Then I saw a meme that spoke to me and decided to add BALANCE! I truly believe all three words work hand in hand to make life easier and happier.

Update to MY list for 2023 is:

  • Do a Happy Homemaker Monday post each and every week and link up with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom. This keeps me more on track and organized about my home life. 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.
  • I have also decided the join Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for her Blog 365 challenge. A blog post every single day of 2023!  Sometimes the post might be a full one but other times it might simply be a picture. I may not always get the logo in, but I will get the post done!
  • Do a devotional every day.
  • Follow a nightly skincare regime.
  • Complete 4 quilts – at least 1 for each quarter. This year is starting off right with these 2 Christmas beauties being bound. I have several others that are 90% done, but need bindings and I’m hoping to get to them soon.
  • Make a better effort to reach out and connect with friends and family more regularly.
  • Learn YOGA or Pilates or both!
  • Take at least a 2 mile walk daily. While I USUALLY get this done in just my daily routine, it is something I need to be more conscious of accomplishing.
  • Continue to downsize and declutter EVERYTHING. This is a serious work in progress that has taken ALL 2022, BUT IS GOING REALLY WELL and will be done by the end of March when we are planning a HUGE garage sale weather pending.
  • Clean out photo files that date back 13 years! I’m working on it, but it’s really hard. This is a serious work in progress that will ALWAYS take ALL year, EVERY YEAR, mainly because I keep taking pictures 😀
  • Create Shutterfly photo albums for 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016. These have been in the works for awhile, but I’m going to get them done this year.
  • Do more drawing and painting – at least one per every other month.
  • Focus on rewriting more recipes to work for only 2 people with NO leftovers. This is a work in progress, but doing REALLY well so far. It has been seriously complicated by the increase in grocery prices 🙁
  • Volunteer at least once a month for a community project. Since I’ve gotten more involved in the Eagles this is a category I accomplish regularly.
  • Do a date weekend once a month – exploring a new place we’ve never been before. In February we were going to take a Valentine’s couples painting class that didn’t happen but in March we went for a special romantic dinner to TRUE KITCHEN for hubby’s birthday and it was fantastic. In January we were going to go to the beach antique shopping and a special dinner out at Waterfront Depot, an old train depot on the bay, but weather has been so bad and medical appointments didn’t line up so we will postpone this until later this year.
  • Clean out old files and recycle or destroy old papers. This is still an ongoing work in progress, but I’ve made seriously good progress in 2022 and will finish through the winter and spring.
  • Eat at least 1 piece of fruit daily. Good so far.
  • I’m all about leading a positive life and carrying the Christmas spirit year round. There is no better way to do that than to do at least 1 random act of kindness every time I leave the house.
  • Read 36 books. Hoping for double this year over last year! 36 was a realistic goal and I actually reached 59 which makes me REALLY happy!  Here’s a list of the books I have in queue – a baker’s dozen+ to get this year started. When I’ve actually read them I’ll change their number to red. 1) A Fire Sparkling by Juliane Maclean 2) The Honey Bus by Meredith May 3) When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee 4) The Brighter the Light by Mary Ellen Taylor 5) The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman 6) The Woman with Two Shadows by Sarah James 7) The Silent Woman by Minka Kent 8) Waking Kate by Sarah Addison Allen 9) Real Bad Things by Kelly J. Ford 10) The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff 11) The D’Angelos by Catherine Bybee 12) Brewed Book #1 in the Cozy Coffee Shop series by Heather Sage 13) Cauldrons Call by Kristen Proby 14) The Resistance Girl by Mandy Robotham 15) Someone to Hold Wild Widows #2 by Marie Force. 16) State of Shock, First Family #4 by Marie Force 17) Summer Magic #1 The Thorne Witches by T.M. Crom 18) Clue Crewe by Jana De Leon 19) Cauldron’s Call by Kristen Proby
  • I’ve added a “SEASONAL” list too. I started with fall that you can see here. And a simple winter list is here. I’ll work on a spring list if it ever happens 😀

  • Finish indexing the recipes on my Food blog, Savory Kitchen Table. This is a serious work in progress and hold over from 2022 that WILL take ALL year.
  • Finish indexing the recipes on my Life blog, Chasing MY Life. When I merged my old blogspot blogs into this single blog it duplicated many things and added an “ALL” category that I am having to eliminate one by one so it’s taking a LONG time. This is a serious work in progress and roll over from 2022 that WILL take ALL year.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 12 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.79

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

Spring is supposed to start tomorrow. I think mother nature forgot. Our weather while it is supposed to be rainy is NOT supposed to be still forecasting bouts of snow. I keep hoping I’ll wake up and realize it’s all an early April fool’s joke 😀

Since I made the cute little graphic above, the weather has changed to plain old snow only for next weekend and ALL out RAIN on Friday 🙁

EXHAUSTED is the only way to describe how I feel. I have truly been burning the candle at both ends and have worn myself out. I took the weekend to try and recharge by going to bed a bit earlier and sleep a bit longer in order to recharge. The estate sale I’ve been helping with should be over soon and our own garage sale being over will help A LOT! There is also a resurgence of COVID in our little town amongst many people we know and associate with so I have been laying low to avoid contact. Fortunately, I hadn’t had any recent serious contact with those who currently have it and will go out of my way to avoid close contact with just about everyone for awhile.

I’m still battling the technology fix to catch up with BLOG 365. The missing posts are being recreated, but it’s a slow go. I’m hoping to be caught up by next week. I’m missing only 4 posts, but they seem to be taking forever to recreate.

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ve been finishing up the sorting and pricing for next weekend’s garage sale and the laundry is all caught up.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS This category is still a work in progress
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS a few unfinished things that I may push off until next week after the garage sale.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING This is a serious work in progress category 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We watched HUD with Paul Newman and Patricia Neal on TCM along with NASCAR and Tournament of Champions. I’m hoping to catch up on the DVR this next week.

Just about to finish up book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series and will then start Kirsten Proby’s Cauldron’s Call.
MONDAY 3/20
TUESDAY 3/21
WEDNESDAY 3/22
THURSDAY 3/23
FRIDAY 3/24
SATURDAY 3/25
SUNDAY 3/26
DINNER
 ARROZ VERDE co POLLO and SALAD
 THREE CUP BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN
ENCHILADA MEATBALLS and RICE
 PB&J PORK SLIDERS with PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COLESLAW
 BUFFALO CHICKEN EGG ROLLS & COLESLAW
 BUFFALO MACARONI & CHEESE BITES and SALAD
 PEASANT SKILLET with BUTTER SWIM BISCUITS
DESSERT
 
 LEMON RICOTTA CAKE
 

Despite more cold and even a bit of snow in the forecast later this week, these daffodils are pushing up in hopes Spring really will start tomorrow.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 11 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.72

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

You guessed it – still cold and even predicting a bit of snow tomorrow. Last Saturday was chilly, but BEAUTIFUL and then woke up yesterday to gray, foggy, rainy and low temps again. This week is supposed to be all over the place!

I try and remind myself of this every day! I’m actually feeling pretty good despite all the extra work and stress in my life lately. I think my blog/server/email issues are all resolved and with minimal disruption and only a lost post or two. I did however lose all your sweet comments from last week. At least I was able to read them before they disappeared.

Hubby’s appointment last week for a second opinion went pretty much how we expected, but we REALLY like the new doctor A LOT! AND we are a lot more comfortable with the new treatment plan.

The remainder of the week was spent working on the estate sale that began on Friday. Friday and Saturday went well despite the vultures who showed up an hour early! Both days were NON-STOP!! Yesterday was a welcome relief of a little down time to play catch up at home.

Some hot water, peach yogurt and a banana.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite being so busy I am actually caught up on the laundry and dishes, but do need to vacuum.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS It’s supposed to rain all day today, but I’m hoping to get the groceries and errands done today if possible.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made a BIG dent last night in a pile last night. Hopefully I’ll get to it again tonight.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I was lucky to get a plan made for this week and a list for the groceries to match, but have a stack of recipe to sit and go through if I can find a quiet time to make a month’s worth of menu planning later this week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE The only thing we watch last week was a NASCAR race and an old DVR recording of CASABLANCA and SKYJACKED on TCM. I’m really hoping things begin slowing down so I can catch up on what on the DVR.

I’m still reading book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series, but have been way too tired to even read at night.

Oh my, the past several weeks have LITERALLY been non-stop and ALL menu plans went right out the window! We ended up eating out many times or making sandwiches or C.O.R.N. on the fly. So let’s try this again!!!!!
MONDAY 3/13
TUESDAY 3/14
WEDNESDAY 3/15
THURSDAY 3/16
FRIDAY 3/17
SATURDAY 3/18
SUNDAY 3/19
DINNER
 APPLE CIDER PORK CHOPS with CRISPY SMASHED HERBED POTATOES
 RUSTIC MAC & CHEESES or BUFFALO  MAC & CHEESE BITES
MEATLOAF with PEAS & POTATOES
 BEEF & BLACK BEAN SOUP with YEAST ROLLS
 CORNED BEEF with POTATOES & CARROTS of course
 CHICKEN FRANCESE
 PEASANT SKILLET with PARMESAN RANCH ROLLS
DESSERT
 rustic caramel apple tart
 
chocolate malt krispies
 grasshopper brownies for the Saint Patrick’s Day bake sale at the Eagles
dulce de leche & cinnamon sandwich cookies

I didn’t even have time to take pictures last week because things were soooooo non stop!

KENTUCKY STYLE WHITE “BAKED” BEANS ~ BLOG 365.68

KENTUCKY STYLE ‘BAKED’ WHITE BEANS adapted from COOK’S COUNTRY
1/2 pound country ham steak, roughly chopped small or shredded
1 tablespoon butter or avocado oil
1 LARGE shallot, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cans (15 ounce) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups homemade chicken broth
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2-3/4 pound ham hock (optional)
1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke (I like mesquite, but hickory is also good)
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Heat butter over medium heat in a dutch oven until melted.
  • Add shallots, cooking until soft and beginning to brown.
  • Add garlic, sautéing a minute more until fragrant.
  • Add beans, water, broth, liquid smoke, vinegar, ham hock and ham pieces and bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Reduce heat to medium low and simmer 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally until beans are tender.
  • Remove ham hock if using.
  • Season to taste and serve.

CHEESEBURGER in PARADISE SOUP ~ BLOG 365.66

CHEESEBURGER in PARADISE SOUP

1 pound ground beef
1/2 small onion, FINELY chopped
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 cups homemade chicken broth
1 teaspoon BETTER THAN BEEF bouillon
2 1/2 cups WHOLE milk
3 large YUKON gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 tablespoons WONDRA flour
1 tablespoon butter, melted butter
8 ounces Velveeta, cubed
chopped pickles, garnish
crumbled bacon, garnish
grated cheddar, garnish
chopped tomato, garnish

  • In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium high heat until crumbly and cooked through. Season with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper as you go. Drain well of fat. Stir in 2 cups of the milk and set aside.
  • Combine the chicken broth, bouillon and potatoes in a dutch oven. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer for 10-15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
  • Add beef mixture to the dutch oven, stirring to combine.
  • Whisk flour into remaining milk and melted butter. Fold into soup gradually.
  • Reduce heat and stir in cheese cubes until smooth, thickened and heated through.
  • Garnish as desired and serve with rolls or buns.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 10 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.65

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

Spring is only 2 weeks away, but NOT here! The geese that flew over yesterday were actually headed south! The snow started early, changed to rain and then back to snow and then sleet. The afternoon hail was the size of large grapes! The breeze was bone chilling. I assume that none of these are good omens – the geese in particular must know something we don’t.

This morning it’s lightly snowing now, but is supposed to turn to rain a bit later and then we’re supposed be getting more snow yet again this week with super cold temperatures still so you guessed it, I’m continuing to layer and staying as warm as possible.

I admit I’ve been burning the proverbial candle on both ends. Of course that’s also when Murphy’s Law kicks in and something else or even several something elses go wrong!

You may have noticed I haven’t been around to visit much. I apologize!!! I have been battling technology issues transferring my blog from one server to another and boy what headaches did that cause! I THINK (fingers crossed) that it’s all handled! Now we’re working on transferring domains and email addresses this week. For a week or so I guess I was like an old Verizon commercial except instead of “Can you hear me now?” it was “Can you see me now?” 😀

Quick and easy this morning. We need to be on the road fairly early for a specialist appointment in another city 100+ miles away just after lunch time and the weather is a bit iffy so I’m just having a peach yogurt and hot water.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m actually up to date – yesterday’s bad weather kept me inside and staying busy.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have to do the shopping for a meal at the Eagles that a friend and I are preparing on Friday as well as the 2 soup nights I’m signed up for when I go to town for a pedicure on Tuesday. Wednesday Dana and I have to prepare the parts for Friday’s meal and then do the regular COSTCO shopping for the Eagles lodge. Thursday-Saturday will be spent helping my friend with what we hope will be a BLOW OUT for the estate sale we’ve been working on. The last 2 weeks have been so very busy with the estate sale and a good deal of the large pieces are sold and gone already which is a good thing.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m still waiting on several return calls for a couple projects. We’re traveling to a specialist appointment for hubby and will hit a couple of my favorite stores before we come home.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING This is a serious work in project and will be reevaluated after I see what proteins I can buy at my favorite store later today.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE The DVR is full of things to watch when I get a chance. I’ve been so busy I can’t even tell you what!

I began Book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series last night.

Last week’s menu went right out the window with so many glitches in the week. So, there will be a couple items that appear to be duplicates of last week’s menu, but are indeed for the first time 😀
MONDAY 3/6
TUESDAY 3/7
WEDNESDAY 3/8
THURSDAY 3/9
FRIDAY 3/10
SATURDAY 3/11
SUNDAY 3/12
DINNER
MONROE COUNTY PORK STEAKS with SMOKEY “BAKED” WHITE BEANS
 CHILI and CORN BREAD
 PEASANT SKILLET & CRISPY SMASHED TATERS
 APPLE CIDER PORK CHOPS, AU GRATIN PEAS & POTATOES
Cooking at the EAGLES CHICKEN PARMESAN SPINACH ARTICHOKE BAKE, ROASTED HONEY ROSEMARY BUTTERNUT SQUASH and CHOCOLATE FRITO BARS
 ROAST LEMON CHICKEN and MAC & CHEESE
 OUT
DESSERT
 
RUSTIC CARAMEL APPLE TART
 

My finished MIXED MEDIA flower cart from last Friday night’s class is done! I just didn’t like the Eiffel tower in the original painting so changed it up to fit me with the hanging basket of flowers 😀
MY FAVORITE LOCAL BARN IS STILL A WORKING ONE

 

Upcoming class I want to do.

Yep, this is a repeat of last week since I was never able to participate in my normal blog hops last week.