Category: INSPIRIVITY
SILENT SUNDAY ~ BLOG 365.362
TGIF ~ BLOG 365.269
HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU & RECIPES week 34 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.237
Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
LAST WEEK RECAPPED / ON MY MIND
Oh my there are parts of last week that were wonderful and parts that were so horrible I’m trying to forget them. It was a busy stressful week trying to finalize many things for my step dad’s memorial on Saturday.
The memorial itself was very nice and well done by a local pastor that has known my stepdad for quite a few years. Mom did up a photo board of pictures of him from over the years to have in the fellowship room during the reception. And then I scanned them to a flash drive for a screen display during the service. There was also a wonderful cross section of attendees from his college roommate, older sister with her son and DIL, younger brother, golf buddies, AA buddies and a whole host of friends, family and neighbors. My friend Martha who I met doing an estate sale for her daughter and son-in-law was there – she’ll be 104 in February and is sprier than most 40 year olds. It was so good to see her and get one of her hugs! My friend Nellie who used to own a local deli shop before she abandoned us to retire early catered the reception in the fellowship hall with her sandwiches, fruit and cookies.
The stressful part came on Sunday morning when my stepsisters showed up half an hour after the appointed time to settle up a few things. With grace (instead of telling you how it really went down) I’ll just say that it devolved quickly with the prickly one yelling at my mom and accusing her of things that just weren’t even possible. It ended with me “inviting” them to leave before mom had a stroke or heart attack because she was so upset. Let’s just say they expected mom to make up financially for things and choices their dad made regarding their mother’s trust over the years that mom had nothing to do with. The way they acted and the things they asked for were ludicrous and completely out of line. It was as if they expected their dad to stop living after their mom died over 25 years ago. I can unequivocally say that he would be sooooooo very ashamed of the way they acted and the things they said.
Let’s just say I believe that from here on out they will be communicating through lawyers or at the very least in public places.
I’m choosing to remain positive and pray that with MUCH grace this can be worked out amicably.
We did go to a birthday party for a spry 94 year old on Sunday afternoon.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
That cold front predicted through much of the mid west isn’t going to hit here!!!! We’re predicted to have highs in the 90’s and lows around 60 throughout the week and partly cloudy so that means a chance of mugginess too.
TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS
|
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
|
|
READING TIME
I’m working on finishing The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley still. Another good reason to look forward to fall with rainy lazy Sundays.
FUNNIES
MENU PLANS
BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
|
8/25 MONDAY
|
8/26 TUESDAY
|
8/27 WEDNESDAY
|
8/28 THURSDAY
|
8/29 FRIDAY
|
8/30 SATURDAY
|
8/31 SUNDAY
|
|
|
DINNER
|
Meeting night CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own!
|
CHEESY CHICKEN & BROCCOLI BAKE
|
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own!
|
ITALIAN SUNDAY GRAVY OVER PASTA
|
cooking at the Eagles
MEATLOAF, ROASTED POTATOES & CARROTS with GRAVY
|
In celebration of Blackberry and all the work being over we’re all going out together for BRUNCH to celebrate so it’s a CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own!
|
CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA
|
|
DESSERT
|
|
HAWAIIAN WEDDING CAKE
|
FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA
We need rain SOOOOOO very bad. The pond is really showing the drought. And the Black Eyed Susans are on their last legs of the season!
INSPIRATIONS
LIFE TIP
HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP
RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK
- FRENCH ONION MEATLOAF
RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
TGIF ~ BLOG 365.199
SATURDAY COFFEE ~ BLOG 365.186
HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENU & RECIPES week 23 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.160
Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
LAST WEEK RECAPPED
Every week has been trying lately for the past 6-7 weeks, but this past week in particular was one of the worst. We began Monday with 8 hours at the hospital and an ER doctor that I will be filing a formal complaint against. Getting decent healthcare shouldn’t be so hard! My stepdad was in for the whole week and after many doctors, a palliative team and discussions he will be coming home hospice later today. All further treatment and testing has been canceled 🙁
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
We’ve been unseasonably hot and under heat advisories this past week. Yesterday topped at 101° and today is supposed to be 98°, but by Thursday we’re supposed to be back down around normal in the high 70’s. Fortunately the night time is still getting down into the 50’s.
ON MY MIND
Doing hospice with grace and a dysfunctional blended family. I guess that statement says A LOT as well not enough. It’s also difficult for me because of my immunocompromised standing. I can do A LOT of things… cooking, patient advocacy, errands, phone calls, but…the whole process of hospice is on a case by case basis and needs to tailored around the patient in my opinion. The health care in this county is still atrocious, and MANY of the doctors should be barred, but I have to admit the palliative care switching to hospice has been quite efficient.
TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS
|
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
|
|
DVR/TV TIME
|
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
|
|
READING TIME
I’m still trying to finish Forest Trap but continue to fall asleep quickly!
FUNNIES
MENU PLANS
BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
|
6/9 MONDAY
|
6/10 TUESDAY
|
6/11 WEDNESDAY
|
6/12 THURSDAY
|
6/13 FRIDAY
|
6/14 SATURDAY
|
6/15 SUNDAY | |
|
DINNER
|
MYRA’S FLANK STEAK, ONION CUCUMBER SALAD, SMASHED GARLIC POTATOES
|
SLOW COOKER PORK CHOPS, GLAZED CARROTS and SALAD
|
MARRY ME CHICKEN, BUTTERED NOODLES and PEAS
|
POT ROAST SMOKED HAM, CORN on the COB, SLICED TOMATOES
|
SLOW COOKED BEEF, MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY
|
BABY BACK RIBS, MAC SLAW & BAKED BEANS
|
?? |
|
DESSERT
|
|
|
|
FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA
My spring flowers are finally making an appearance and I’m wondering what the story behind the feathers is 😀
INSPIRATIONS
LIFE TIP
HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP
RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK
- MAC SLAW
- MINI CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE CANNOLI CUPS
RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS
- PAN FRIED CHICKEN with SHERRY MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE
- CAITLYN’S CORNED BEEF
- TAMY’S SOUTHERN APPLE WALNUT CARROT CAKE
HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPES & MENUS week 19 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.132
Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
LAST WEEK RECAPPED
The name of my blog, “Chasing MY Life” and my subtext, “It Is What It Is” has NEVER been more fitting than it is right now. Hubby and I have always agreed that we end up where we are the most needed to help. This attitude certainly makes adjusting to the changes life is throwing in our path MUCH more easily navigated.
Things changed quickly last week with my stepdad. He ended up back in the hospital with complications. He was sent home over the weekend and we’re doing what can be done to make him comfortable. There should be some conclusive results early this week, but things are progressing faster than anyone expected. 🙁
Hubby and I have pivoted to make things easier for my mom to care for him and will unfortunately miss our family reunion. I will coordinate from here and make the arrangements for next year so everyone will have it in place as they leave. We will go see as many of them individually as we can in a few weeks to make up for missing the family reunion. It won’t be quite the same, but as I always say, “It Is What It Is”!
On the flip side, there were a few people having to fill in for me and my regular Eagle’s duties that are relieved I will still be here to make their lives easier. There was also 2 events that we were really disappointed that we were going to miss that we are now going to be able to participate in. We’ll also be around for the city wide garage sale weekend.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
Last week’s glorious weather has returned to our regularly scheduled Pacific North West uncertainty of cold and rain. This week is once again predicted to be in the high 50’s and 60’s for highs with periodic rain.
TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS
|
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
|
|
DVR/TV TIME
|
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
|
|
READING TIME
FUNNIES
MENU PLANS
BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
|
5/12 MONDAY
|
5/13 TUESDAY
|
5/14 WEDNESDAY
|
5/15 THURSDAY
|
5/16 FRIDAY
|
5/17 SATURDAY
|
5/28 SUNDAY
|
|
|
DINNER
|
BBQ PULLED PORK and MACARONI COLESLAW
|
SLOPPY JOES and CHEESY POTATOES
|
HAM STEAKS with STUFFED MAC & CHEESE
|
VOODOO CHICKEN WINGS and POTATO SALAD
|
OUT
|
OUT
|
BBQ COMPETITION |
|
DESSERT
|
|
|
|
FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA
I’m in love with this picture of my niece Olive. Those little pink converse tennies…
INSPIRATIONS
LIFE TIP
HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP
RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK
- CREAMY HAM & POTATOES
- TENNESSEE ONIONS
RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
- CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
- GRUYERE POTATO CASSEROLE
- DRIED CHERRY SALAD
- PEANUT BUTTER PIE
- PIZZA EGG ROLLS
TGIF ~ BLOG 365.115
HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENU & RECIPES week 10 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.69
Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
GOOD MORNING LADIES! Did you remember to adjust your clocks? Personally I wish they’d pick a time and just stay with it!! That first Sunday after the time change is ALWAYS the hardest for me and this year was no different because it was dark, cloudy and foggy! To make matters worse, I’m not even sure how it’s Monday again. I feel like I lost an entire week! I’m pretty good about getting around to visit everyone, but I sadly fell short last week. I will be better this week! 😀
LAST WEEK RECAPPED
The week was full of “fires” to put out so I won’t bore you with too many details, but I ended up spending a lot of unplanned time at the Eagles including working the fundraiser dinner Friday night. Monday through Friday were jam packed with “STUFF”. Saturday I took a paint class and then hubby and I went out for dinner at a favorite haunt. Sunday was doing normal chores to catch up on laundry and cleaning and helping an elderly friend with some house maintenance.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
Welcome to the Pacific North West where your spring flowers prematurely bloom at the first sign of sunshine only to be beaten back down by pouring rain and snow and you are always only a layer or two from shivering.
While the EAST is supposed to have a warm-up this week, we’re just the opposite with thunderstorms and snow!
MONDAY Cloudy 65/41
TUESDAY Cloudy 47/40
WEDNESDAY Rain 49/37
THURSDAY Thunderstorms/Snow 47/34
FRIDAY Snow/Rain 46/34
SATURDAY Rain 45/ 39
SUNDAY Rain 45/34
ON MY MIND
I lost last week! I really do NOT know where it went and mainly because of other people and having to pivot to pick up the slack. I know I’ve said it before, but I’m getting super close to throwing in the towel on the Eagles and the continually growing issues at hand. :SIGH: 😔 See my funny for today. I picked it long before today, but boy does it fit!!!!!
TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS
|
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
|
|
DVR/TV TIME
|
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
|
|
READING TIME
I’m between books, but hope to start a new one tonight.
FUNNIES
MENU PLANS
BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
|
3/10 MONDAY
|
3/11 TUESDAY
|
3/12 WEDNESDAY
|
3/13 THURSDAY
|
3/14 FRIDAY
|
3/15 SATURDAY
|
3/16 SUNDAY
|
|
|
DINNER
|
MEETING NIGHT
CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
|
MEATBALL SALAD
|
STUBBY CHICKEN
|
SHORT CUT CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
|
OUT with FRIENDS
|
PIZZA EGG ROLLS
|
CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA |
|
DESSERT
|
|
|
SALTED CARAMEL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
|
|
FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA
I am not entirely happy with my picture “A Walk in the Wilderness”, but I’ll keep working on it, the bushes in particular 😀
INSPIRATIONS
LIFE TIP
HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP
RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK
- LOADED SEAFOOD CHOWDER
- BUFFALO CRUSTED BAKED FISH & CHIPS
RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS
TGIF ~ BLOG 365.66
HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENU & RECIPES week 8 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.55
Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
LAST WEEK RECAPPED
My week was busy with pre-Spring cleaning, sorting and organizing as well as my many Eagles duties, but my weekend was kind of lazy, yet productive!
Saturday was A LOT of cleaning and laundry. We began working on power washing the back patio, patio cover and gutters. For some reason they have gotten exceptionally mossy and slimy so far this year. We even found horrible moss patches on the new roof that we’re working hard to eradicate before it gets a foothold that can’t be stopped.
I even took time to have lunch with a friend on Sunday and watch ALL the NASCAR races (which were recorded) since it was raining so much and all outside cleaning came to a stop.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
Beware of captions that say a warm up is on the way, BUT, don’t put away the winter coats! That’s how SNOWMAGEDDON started a few years back!
Monday 57/44 ~ 1 inch RAIN
Tuesday 57/44 ~ 1 inch RAIN
Wednesday 58/35 ~ CLOUDY
Thursday 58/34 ~ CLOUDY
Friday 58/44 ~ CLOUDY/RAIN
Saturday 56/43 ~ 1 inch RAIN
Sunday 55/38 ~ 1/2 inch RAIN
ON MY MIND
TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS
|
THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
|
|
DVR/TV TIME
|
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
|
|
READING TIME
I finished PICTURES OF YOU by Emma Grey last week and started THE BOYFRIEND by Frieda McFadden for book Club, but really want to start RUN, ROSE, RUN by James Patterson and Dolly Parton as well as so many more titles, so may be dropping book club 🙁 to read on my own.
FUNNIES
MENU PLANS
BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
|
2/24 MONDAY
|
2/25 TUESDAY
|
2/26 WEDNESDAY
|
2/27 THURSDAY
|
2/28 FRIDAY
|
3/1 SATURDAY
|
3/2 SUNDAY
|
|
|
DINNER
|
CHICKEN TETRAZZINI and a fresh batch of SWEET BBQ SAUCE
|
PASTEL AZTECA
|
PIGEON RIVER CHICKEN
|
BAKED MANICOTTI with MEAT SAUCE
|
cooking at EAGLES QUESADILLAS with MEXICAN CORN SALAD and MEXICAN ROSETTE CHURROS
|
CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA
|
HUBBY’S BIRTHDAY HIS CHOICE |
|
BREAKFAST
|
|
|
|
CANADIAN BACON ONION QUICHE
|
FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA
This happened last year also. Spring blooms thinking it’s time only to be beaten back down by cold, rain, wind and/or snow 🙁
INSPIRATIONS
LIFE TIP
HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP
RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK
- EARTHQUAKE CAKE
- BEAN & BBQ BEEF STEW
- HALUSKI aka POLISH COLESLAW
RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS
