Category: BLOG 365

I don’t know about you, but I really can’t believe we’re in November and Christmas is only 49 days away! I’ve been busier than ever (or so it seems), but still have so much I want to accomplish this year. Thank goodness they gave me an hour back yesterday (insert snickering here 😀 )

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

I cannot believe this year only has 2 months left. Hubby helped me get out the holiday decorations last week. Ever since COVID I have decorated early and leave them up late. I just love Christmas! For me it truly is about the season and the reason for the season. I LOVE doing the baking and sharing with others. BUT, EVERYTHING is so expensive this year! We’ve decided to scale back drastically and make this a truly old fashioned Christmas. If your can’t eat it or drink it or enjoy it with others, it’s not on our Christmas list. 😀

I’m really hoping that I can enhance BLOGMAS this year and increase our Christmas spirit (which is already pretty high). Our neighbors are wonderful people and I LOVE sharing with them as I bake or create new recipes. They are always honest about the new recipes which I adore so I really appreciate their input. Mark paid me the most wonderful compliment the other day when I took over a pan of Chicken Chile Enchiladas and homemade refried beans when their daughter was visiting. He said I’m always thinking of others and doing nice things for them. Isn’t that what this life (and Christmas) is all about? It is to me and I think the best way for me to start my BLOGMAS season 😀

I’ve also realized that doing BLOG 365 is something I’m glad I’ve done (mostly) this year, but I think next year will be more intentional and purposeful blogging instead of just racing to fill each day.

100% chance of cold and rain so there’s a 100% chance of flannels and UGG’s this week for me. I LOVE living where it’s cold, but I HATE being cold and especially cold toes! We had thunderstorms and pouring raining ALL of Saturday with a short break Sunday morning before it began all over again by lunchtime.

I’m in holiday mode! Don’t hate me, but my Christmas tree is up! Well mostly up, I’ll finish today. We’re not having anyone over for Thanksgiving and on those years I start with Christmas early. It’s my favorite time of year and the cold makes it seem okay to decorate early. We will restrain ourselves and not decorate outside until after Thanksgiving though 😀

I am having some girlfriends over for a charcuterie board and Christmas jewelry tree making get together later today so thought having the tree up would be inspirational.

I spent most of the rainy weekend baking for the Eagles bake sale yesterday and preparing a raffle basket for a pool tournament/memorial for a sweet man who recently passed away. It was hosted by a local bar & grill that my girlfriend manages and she asked me to help her. We raised  close to $1000.00 for his family.

Have I mentioned how much I miss being able to have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning? Especially on cold fall/winter mornings? 😀 This morning is hot water and raisin oatmeal before I brave the cold rainy morning to get the grocery shopping done.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m working on the baseboards and carpet edges that collect the dust that vacuums just don’t reach. GROCERIES & ERRANDS just a few for myself. My friend that had ankle replacement surgery is now in a walking boot and overjoyed with being a bit independent again. I need to get to town and get a few things for tomorrow’s Eagles dinner that I’m now subbing in for as the regular cook for Tuesday will be away. Her husband is having surgery later today for a bladder cancer recurrence – please keep Robert in your prayers. We’re having Creamy Rustic Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers which will be perfect for this weather!! PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made my way through another stack of notes and filing 😀 RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to sit down this week and plan out the rest of the year with intention.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Christmas movies and baking shows seem to be on the forefront now that we’ve cleaned out the DVR and caught up on the summer things.

Wild Widows #3, Someone to Love by Marie Force.

 

	11/6 MONDAY	11/7 TUESDAY	11/8 WEDNESDAY	11/9 THURSDAY	11/10 FRIDAY	11/11 SATURDAY	11/12 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH & DINNER	SIRLOIN CAP & GERMAN DUMPLINGS	CREAMY TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE DIPPERS (I’m filling in for a friend at the Eagles whose husband had surgery yesterday)	BEEF STEW & CRUSTY SOURDOUGH	CHICKEN WINGS & POTATO SALAD	YOYO / CORN YOU’RE on YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT since my girlfriend and I will be out of town visiting some craft fairs in a neighboring town an hour away	OUT with FRIENDS TO a FAVORITE RESTAURANT & AXE THROWING EVENING 😀	YOYO / CORN YOU’RE on YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT FRIDGE NIGHT I’ll be at a fundraiser for the Eagles MOST of the day
DESSERT	WALNUT POLVORONES		APPLE CORN CRISP

I left quite early on Saturday to run errands and go to the fall craft fair, which wasn’t as good as normal, but had I not gone I would have missed this incredible morning shot of the foggy and stormy pond.

• FRUIT PIE BARS

• CHEDDAR MUFFINS
• BROWN BAG APPLE PIE
• HAWAIIAN STIR FRY PINEAPPLE BOATS
  

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

BRRRRRRR this past weekend was cold, at least for this time of the year here. Later next month through February wouldn’t be too surprising, but having the bird bath freeze over before Halloween is a bit unusual.

Our highs are supposed to jump up into the 50’s this week with the lows in the 40’s and rain coming our way by Wednesday night.

Things are starting to calm down FINALLY! I’m looking forward to finally getting some sewing and quilting done. I’m also starting to get the holiday decorations out later today when it warms up just a bit.

I’m trying a bit of coffee today with my black cherry yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a serious deep clean, baseboards and all, in the bedroom over the weekend and got all caught up on laundry. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be going to town Wednesday and Thursday to help my girlfriend with her appointments after her ankle replacement. She still can’t put ANY weight on it for another month. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m working on some stacks and making headway. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to have the time to get down to the nitty gritty in sorting out recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Still waiting on the “regular” season to begin, but am enjoying getting caught up on cooking shows and old movies.

I finished the Heather Webber book, At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities as well as the Kristen Proby book, A Single in Seattle last week and began the latest Wild Widows #3, Someone to Love by Marie Force.

	10/30 MONDAY	10/31 TUESDAY	11/1 WEDNESDAY	11/2 THURSDAY	11/3 FRIDAY	11/4 SATURDAY	11/5 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH	BONELESS WING LEFT OVERS	TUNA SANDS	out	out	??	??	??
DINNER	CHICKEN CHILI DIP ENCHILADAS	TACO TUESDAY	CHICKEN POTPIE GALETTE	TACO BOWLS	BACON MAC & CHEESE CORN BREAD	CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD	HAWAIIAN LEMON CHICKEN
DESSERT		CARMELITAS

Friday night hubby and I did a date night with a create-n-sip painting and then last Saturday was TRUNK-or-TREAT for the downtown businesses with a scarecrow contest and LOTS of candy for about 1500 kids and was also our Halloween party at the Eagles. I wish I had gotten more pictures of the great costumes.

We helped build the HOCOS POCUS scarecrow scene for a friend who manages a downtown bar and grill – so much fun! I’m not a HUGE decorator of Halloween, but did also enjoy building Elmira, formerly known as Elmer for our front porch on Tuesday.

 

• NORWEGIAN MEATBALLS
• VERDE CHICKEN ENCHILADA BAKE
• LEMON TIRAMISU
  

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

The weather is taking another dip this week that I’m loving – highs in the 50’s and lows in the 30’s by the end of the week with lots more rain on the way.

A lot going on EVERYWHERE here and in the world. Praying for several people in my life going through MAJOR medical issues as well as all that is going on in Israel and the Ukraine.

BIG surprise 😀 Hot Water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m about to start a DEEP clean before I move into serious holiday decorating mode! GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have several errands to do later this week, but will all depend on the appointments for a friend who recently had her ankle replaced. I know Thursday in particular is primarily her day as we have to start at the hospital for an x-ray in town and then back here for her eye doctor appointment before we go back to town for her surgery follow-up appointment with the doctor to see when she can begin physical therapy and apply any weight to the ankle. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS too much going on this week so this category will wait until next week. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING too much going on this week so this category will also wait until next week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Have been watching season 4 of LARAMIE which I had never seen and have been enjoying. Also watching season 2 of SHINING VALE. About to start season 5 of YELLOWSTONE and have found a couple new shows on AMC+ that we’re enjoying – WAR of the WORLDS series based in England and MAYFAIR WITCHES and DARYL DIXON. We may start HELL ON WHEELS (which we saw the first time, but enjoyed) while we wait for any new shows to begin, but I am hoping to like NCIS SYDNEY. We also started the new FRASIER, but just not sure yet if it’s going to go anywhere.

I’m about to finish Heather Webber’s At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and to begin Dark Nights by Kristin Proby.

	10/23 MONDAY	10/24 TUESDAY	10/25 WEDNESDAY	10/26 THURSDAY	10/27 FRIDAY	10/28 SATURDAY	10/29 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH	BLT’s	TACO TUESDAY	TUNA SALAD	WOOD WARD’S BRISKET	BACKSIDE	CORN	CORN
DINNER	CHICKEN WINGS & CUCUMBER SALAD	GARLIC & HERB PORK LOIN with RICE PILAF	CHEESE BURGER SOUP	YOYO or CORN	POT ROAST and MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY	OUT HALLOWEEN PARTY	SALTED SIRLOIN CAP & RICE PILAF
DESSERT		BLUEBERRY PIE BARS

These pups were just so cute!

• ANTIPASTO SQUARES
• GREEN & WHITE CHICKEN CHILE