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

IT’S MONDAY!!! 

GOOD MORNING sweet friends. I’m sitting here savoring my coffee and the quiet house while I make my list(s) for the week and before I have to get ready to brave the brisk morning breeze for some early morning appointments.

Can you believe we’re in the last week of October already? I find it utterly mind boggling. Thanksgiving is only a month away and Christmas is only 60 days away!!

We’re going to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving this year and I’m taking the dressing and dessert. So I don’t have the stress of too much food preparation, decorating or even clean up so that’s a bit of a relief. I actually wrapped 3 Christmas presents this past weekend and am contemplating where to put the tree this year.

I’ve been slacking a bit on BLOGTOBER, but did get a couple posts in last week for my favorite fall clothing and a public service announcement about Christmas. Honestly, my heart and mind have already moved on to BLOGMAS.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It has been quite cool and wet this past weekend and we even had a small thunderstorm, but we’re supposed to dry out a bit this week (at least until Saturday when the rain is due to begin again) and be clearer. That will make it a bit cooler though and I’m ready! Daytime highs will be in the mid 50’s and nighttime lows in the mid 30’s.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV

TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING With the rainy weekend I was able to get the laundry and cleaning completely up to date. I’m also going through the closet and all my drawers sorting out things for this early winter and donating what I can. The local trash company is going on an odd schedule for the next 3 weeks so hubby and I have been trying to chop down, cut small and make all the outside detritus fit into the odd scheduled days for pick up where and when we can if it’s not too rainy. TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be in town today and will get just a few oddball things like laundry soap and shoelaces to finish up the week. PROJECTS & TRAVELS On hold yet again 🙁 RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m definitely looking for some hearty slow cooker recipes for this next month. DVR/TV I know the new season is barely started, but I’m already behind!!!! ON MY MIND I’ve been thinking about the fastly approaching holidays – Thanksgiving in a month and Christmas in two months and how to navigate those this year. My mom’s upcoming knee replacement surgery, navigating family relations that are out of whack and life changes in general. THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY I know I’m weird, but I LOVE all this rain and cold we’re getting early this year. With the time change coming next weekend it seems to be discombobulating me a bit this year!

READING TIME

I’m starting a new book tonight, A FLICKER IN THE DARK by STACY WILLINGHAM. I’m trying to get caught up on book club.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	10/27 MONDAY	10/28 TUESDAY	10/29 WEDNESDAY	10/30 THURSDAY	10/31 FRIDAY	11/1 SATURDAY	11/2 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	SLOW COOKER PEPPER STEAK	CHILI CON CARNE QUESO CUPS & SALAD	MANDARIN CHICKEN & RICE	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	PASTA ala PASSION an OLD RECIPE BOX CHOICE	HONEY JALAPENO SOY CHICKEN
DESSERT		AUTUMN SNICKERDOODLES

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I wasn’t in a great location for the photos, but the rainbows were amazing this week when they happened.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• COPY CAT LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN with HOMEMADE MARINARA
• BAKED FETTUCCINE ALFREDO and WARM TOMATO BROCCOLI SALAD

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• AUTUMNAL SALAD
• updated CHICKEN PARMIGIANA
• BRAISED WHITE BEAN & SAUSAGE ONE POT MEAL

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• SOUR APPLE SLAW
• APPLE PIE CUPCAKES
• TOP 10 FALL COMFORT FOODS
  

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

AHHHHHH a weekend away was just what the doctor ordered! Five years ago hubby and I went to the GREAT JUNK HUNT at the fairgrounds in the county 100 miles to the south of us for a weekend away and it was wonderful. I found not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR vintage recipe boxes.

Two years ago my girlfriend and I went to a great holiday market at the same fairgrounds 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.

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

But, this year we went 100 miles north to a GREAT JUNK HUNT and had just as much fun, if not more even though the JUNK HUNT itself was not very good! I’m always on the hunt for more vintage recipe boxes or sewing drawers and found neither this trip!

We were also able to get in some quality antiquing time and FINALLY visited a wonderful architectural salvage house that I’ve been bragging to my girlfriend about for years. She was an interior designed and loves all things architecturally old and vintage.

We also had some great happy hour times sitting and chatting, laughing and enjoying each other’s company at the hotel we stayed at for Friday and Saturday nights as well as checking out some wonderful restaurants that were new to us MOM & POP places. My favorites were Filberts Farmhouse kitchen where Dana had the tomato bisque and I had the most delicious butternut squash bisque with cranberry coulis and we split a Chicken Parmigiana sandwich, Pastini’s Mushroom ravioli with a caramelized leek sauce with garlic bread and Hops&Drops homemade Southwestern taquitos!

Last week’s BLOGTOBER shares were for my favorite:

• FALL COMFORT FOODS
• FALL PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Our much needed rain is coming in spurts, but I’ll take it! We are just jumping from summer to winter this year though. Fall is getting lost in the mix! This week’s forecast is cloudy, highs in the 50’s and 60’s with lows in the upper 30’s and some rain each day with much heavier rain coming for next weekend.

ON MY MIND, TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, TRAVELS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I need to get caught up on laundry and the chores I didn’t get done while we were away. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I definitely need to get some groceries and I have pedicure tomorrow so will probably do it then. Wednesday will be the normal Eagle’s shopping and we’re having lunch with some dear friends on Thursday. PROJECTS & TRAVELS We’re working on a plan for a trip in November, but that will be determined by the discontinued part arrival and mechanic’s time frame for the car we’ll take on the trip. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING planned through October and into November for now. I had hoped to find more recipe boxes this weekend to finish up November, but will dig into my files instead. DVR/TV We’ve changed internet companies and eliminated DISH so there isn’t really any DVR anymore and TV is up to our whims and streaming services. I’ll have to learn a new “normal” to see my “regular” shows.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

The dates are a little off, but the sentiment is the same. 🙂

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	10/20 MONDAY	10/21 TUESDAY	10/22 WEDNESDAY	10/23 THURSDAY	10/24 FRIDAY	10/25 SATURDAY	10/26 SUNDAY
DINNER	JOY’S PASTA ala PASSION	LEMON PORK CHOPS	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CHICKEN LEMONAISE	NAN’S PORK CHOPS	MANDARIN CHICKEN	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I made a little progress on the new sewing cabinet.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• AUTUMNAL SALAD
• BRAISED WHITE BEAN & SAUSAGE ONE POT MEAL

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• GRAM’S APPLE PIE DUMPLINGS 
• ITALIAN GRINDER CHOPPED SALAD

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• GRAM’S APPLE DUMPLINGS
• CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES
• BROWN BAG APPLE PIE
  

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

WOW once again last week sped by and here we are again at Monday. Today is our anniversary, but it’s Monday and everywhere we’d like to go to celebrate is closed so will celebrate tomorrow while we are at the coast for an appointment for hubby.

I’ve spent most of last week packing away and sorting the things from the estate sale for donation this week. When I wasn’t doing that I was prepping for the Blackberry Festival special that some friends and I talked another friend into running. We did a Blackberry Brisket Biscuit and it was a huge success. I made the homemade biscuits and Blackberry Jalapeno jam (I even strained it 3 times to get rid of the seeds) and my girlfriend’s hubby smoked a brisket. He’s also a graphic artist and made us a cool banner.

The Festival itself was fun, even with the rain! The rain kept the temperatures down and I even found myself wanting a hoodie at one point while we were checking out all the old classic cars. I’ll put some pictures down in the favorite photos from the camera section. We then went downtown to the Farmer’s Market for some gorgeous carrots, fresh small head cabbage, sun dried tomatoes and then went by my favorite permanent Veggie farm where I bought some sourdough cinnamon rolls and peaches. 

I do have to get back on track this week and get some things done!!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It’s been quite cloudy since the rain and that’s making it A LOT humid and muggy! We’re supposed to move back to the high 80’s and clouds most the week.

ON MY MIND

There has been so much going on for so long I can’t even keep my thoughts straight. Just when things seemed to be settling down we found out my brother will be having open heart surgery in a couple weeks because of an aneurysm. Trying to stay positive for him and keep my mom from worrying too much. He has good doctors. He’s only 3 years older than my dad was when he passed from a massive heart attack so it’s a bit scary.

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have quite a bit of both to do before the memorial for my stepdad on Saturday as I’m sure people will be coming back to the house after. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be doing the grocery shopping on Thursday because of hubby’s out of town appointment on Tuesday, working at the Eagles on Wednesday and our anniversary today. PROJECTS & TRAVELS Once again we’ve postponed ALL our trips until things settle down with family. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Fall is quickly approaching and I’m anxious to do some stews and slow cooking. DVR/TV We’ve been so busy I’ve barely seen many of my favorite shows, but look at this more this week.

READING TIME

I’m reading THE BOOK of Lost and FOUND by Lucy Foley. I chose this book based on the last one I read by her and I love her style though this book is quite a bit different, but in a good way.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀 This will be a strange week with the upcoming memorial on Saturday and friends and family in and out for several days so am not planning too many meals and just going with the flow.

	8/18 MONDAY	8/19 TUESDAY	8/20 WEDNESDAY	8/21 THURSDAY	8/22 FRIDAY	8/23 SATURDAY	8/24 SUNDAY
DINNER	FRENCH ONION MEAT LOAF, ROASTED BABY POTATOES & BUTTERNUT SQUASH	OUT for the day with hubby so will celebrate our anniversary somewhere nice	OUT with GIRLFRIENDS	??	??	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• HAWAIIAN SHEET PAN CHICKEN
• CHEESY ITALIAN & SAUSAGE PASTA

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• BURRITO BAKE
• CHICKEN SAUSAGE PARMESAN SOUP