Category: HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

WHEW, am I glad last week is over! I know I missed getting by to see most of you, but I REALLY didn’t have a minute to myself. I promise to get by this week.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent dealing with the shopping and prep to lay in the necessary ingredients for the 3 day CRIBBAGE Tournament being held at the Eagles. They rent the hall from us, but my girlfriend and I do all the meals for all 3 days for 50+ people. I spent ALL day Thursday preparing the soups, breakfast bakes and biscuits for our Friday meals. On Friday, while we were working, Annette’s hubby smoked all the pork to be pulled for the Saturday sandwiches and she prepped the baked beans between breakfast and lunch. I did the dessert baking.

Our days begin at 6AM and this particular event also fell on my auxiliary dinner night on Friday so I had an extra event to plan and work. Friday I left home at 530AM to go to the Eagles and didn’t leave there until almost 9PM to come back home and still managed to do over 23,000 steps.

Then I had to be back at 6AM Saturday to start all over! On Sunday morning when we arrived we found the kitchen refrigerator died during the night. Fortunately our middle name is PIVOT so we emptied the fridge and moved it outside while moving our storage room fridge to the kitchen. Unfortunately we had to throw out most everything which will only make this week’s shopping so much more!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

“The Northwest will stay soggy as multiple systems take aim mid-to-late week. Here’s what we’re watching this week.” This is never the way I want a weather report to start.

Yesterday was pretty nice, today and tomorrow are supposed to be great with highs even closing in on 70, BUT (and there is ALWAYS a BUT at this time of year) Wednesday brings back the cooler temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s and you guessed it, MORE rain!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY, CLEANING, GROCERIES & ERRANDS Desperately need groceries today and to do a deep clean this week after all the food prep for last week’s cribbage tournament and auxiliary fundraiser dinner. And tonight is meeting night that I HAVE to be at. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I so very seriously need to get re-organized and do a plan for the next month.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

STREAMING We have been re-watching GILMORE GIRLS late at night CABLE TOURNAMENT of CHAMPIONS, SPRING BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP and I will need to empty the DVR soon before the spring season begins in earnest.

READING TIME

Who had time this week?

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	3/24 MONDAY	3/25 TUESDAY	3/26 WEDNESDAY	3/27 THURSDAY	3/28 FRIDAY	3/29 SATURDAY	3/30 SUNDAY
DINNER	I cleaned out the fridge last night and found enough leftovers for 3 nights 😀	OUT	CORN/YOYO	CORN/YOYO	OUT	ASPARAGUS CHEDDAR CASSEROLE with PAN SEARED CHICKEN	CHICKEN in COCONUT PEANUT SAUCE
DESSERT		GRAN’S old fashioned CARROT CAKE with DRUNKEN RAISINS

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

The sun actually came out late yesterday afternoon and as you can see the water is beginning to recede and is beginning to look normal again under one of my favorite bridges. The Rochester one lane bridge is over 100 years old and one of my favorite routes to a favorite dive tavern that’s equally as old 🙂

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• RASPBERRY TRUFFLE BROWNIES
  
• PRETTY IN PINK TRES LECHES CAKE
  
• ITALIAN PASTA with SAUSAGE in CREAMY SPINACH, GARLIC and WHITE WINE SAUCE
  

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• SPICY CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
  
• BRAISED BALSAMIC CHICKEN & MASHED CARROTS

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was better than the week before, but was still super busy putting out fires and trying to stay one step ahead of everything that was thrown my way. We were hit with back to back winter storms that made everything more difficult, but it is March in the Pacific Northwest 🙁 Sump pumps are working harder than ever, but unfortunately there is more water than drainage ability. A Lot of sandbagging going on coupled with prayers!

I started preparing and getting ready to serve the St. Patrick’s Day meal yesterday at the Eagles. The weather took a turn for the worse shortly after I put it in the oven and our town as well as many around us were closed down due to floods and eventually snow, so I had to go back, put a closed sign on the door and finish cooking at home. There’s nothing scarier than when your phone goes off with that emergency signal! And I HATE those words to “stay put and shelter in place”! I’ll use the leftovers for a Tuesday special and to make a soup for the cribbage tournament next weekend.

On Friday we were able to get a few things accomplished (the stars must have been aligned perfectly) to speed up hubby’s torn rotator cuff surgery. The medical system with all the referrals and extra people in the “middle” is so frustrating!!! When you add in the lack of enough medical professionals here in our area, it makes it difficult to get quality care, let alone any care sometimes.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It’s cold and it has snowed, sleeted and poured down rain for days! It’s too late to build an ark, but we really need one. We’re on river flood watch after a couple of horrendous storms. The puddles have puddles and the ducks are wearing galoshes. LOTS and lots of layers are on the agenda this week. Highs in 50’s and lows in 30’s with lots more rain. As of today we’ve had almost 9 inches for JUST the month of March.

ON MY MIND

The first Cribbage event of the season is next weekend and the friend I work with for the tournament is currently in Arizona and not sure she’ll be able to get back in time because of these storms. Right now the menu, shopping and food prep is all on me 🙂 but I have faith she’ll get here in time for us to fall into sync 🙂

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m pretty up to date, but do have some pantry sorting to finish. I’m also deep cleaning the baseboards and window sills. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have the normal Eagles shopping to do and ALSO the shopping for the Cribbage Tournament. Our meals will be simpler this week using things on hand because I’ll be so busy!

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

STREAMING I’m still watching Gilmore Girls, Crossing Jordan and Steel Magnolias CABLE I’ve finally all but emptied out the DVR from the build up during this really wet weekend so just Tournament of Champions, Spring Baking Championship, Ghosts, Matlock, Elsbeth and Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage THEATRE there’s a new Jason Statham movie coming out that hubby wants to see – A WORKING MAN

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	3/17 MONDAY	3/18 TUESDAY	3/19 WEDNESDAY	3/20 THURSDAY	3/21 FRIDAY	3/22 SATURDAY	3/23 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE (BIG SURPRISE 😀 )	CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA	CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN, MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY	CORN/YOYO  clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	BEEF ENCHILADAS, CHILE CORNBREAD SALAD	OUT	OUT
DESSERT					TRES LECHES CAKE

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

We’ve had a ton of rain this year and several slides. On this particular route we encountered a previous slide clean up on a rare sunny day. Look closely at the guy in orange. You couldn’t pay me to be where he is. It looks like the boulder he’s working on could go at any time! This was a few weeks ago. I can only imagine what it looks like after this past weekend. There were SEVERAL more slides, road washouts and flooding. I’m sure there are many more I haven’t even heard of yet!

The water is usually about 20 feet below this bridge, except yesterday. This was about 3PM long before the high water peak later last night.

On another note, beautiful spring blossoms and snow are NOT something you see very often around here! We went from lots and lots of rain and flooding to snow in just hours!

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• SPICY CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
  
• BRAISED BALSAMIC CHICKEN & MASHED CARROTS
  

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• BEEF & SWEET ONIONS
• BUFFALO CRUSTED BAKED FISH & CHIPS

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• CHICKEN PARMESAN LASAGNA
• EARTHQUAKE CAKE
• LOADED SEAFOOD CHOWDER

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was a bit of a blur as I worked hard to get all my Eagles and Offyce shopping (and they were BIG shopping weeks! – my car, a BIG SUV was SUPER full!) done and work shifts (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) before leaving Friday on our long weekend at the beach which was glorious (COLD, but glorious) by the way!

While we didn’t have snow last Tuesday like so much of the rest of the country (Houston, New Orleans, Alabama, Florida beaches…), but we did have the largest power outage in the country and on our coldest day yet this winter. Our bird bath has been frozen solid for over a week!

We got home yesterday in time for the last football game – YAY for Jean as the Chiefs try to break a record of back to back to back Superbowl wins. I have all the laundry from last week and the trip to do as well as get some groceries shopped for and the house cleaned. I’ll be working again this week on Tuesday night and making the dessert for Friday night as well as the Eagles and Offyce shopping all over again this week so am just going to jump in and finish this post quickly so I can get going even though the temperature outside is only up to 18°.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It’s still SUPER COLD! The rain is returning at the end of the week and our first SNOW is forecasted for the weekend! This is just how SNOWMAGGEDON began!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING LOTS of both to do! GROCERIES & ERRANDS LOTS of groceries to do! PROJECTS & TRAVELS I need to edit the trip photos. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I made a freezer inventory and am sticking to meals that will clean it out so I can start fresh in February.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

STREAMING Trying to finish binging BONES CABLE Need to clean out the DVR

READING TIME

Trying to finish LILAC INK THE KNOCKNASHEE STORY by Jean Grainger. We did start Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls on audio while we were gone, but that didn’t get very far. I have one to start for book club this weekend, but I hate that it feels like a class assignment so may be skipping this one.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	1/27 MONDAY	1/28 TUESDAY	1/29 WEDNESDAY	1/30 THURSDAY	1/31 FRIDAY	2/1 SATURDAY	2/2 SUNDAY
DINNER	AUXILIARY MEETING so will pick up take out on the way home	WORKING THE EAGLE’S KITCHEN so will eat there.	CHICKEN WINGS and CORN on the COB	TOMALITO CHICKEN ENCHILADAS	CHICKEN TETRAZZINI supporting Lu’s dinner at the Eagles	POT ROAST & VEGGIES	CHILI & CORNBREAD
DESSERT		BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BREAD PUDDING			BLUEBERRY PEAR SLAB PIE making this for Lu’s dinner

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

It was such a packed weekend that I’m just making a collage of some of my favorite foods, scenes and activities. The picture with the odd guy in it was really funny. He was a window washer and he only washed ONE window out of twenty. We guessed that someone reserved that table for a special dinner that night and paid extra to have it washed 😀

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

• RASPBERRY TRUFFLES
• PORK & SCALLOPED POTATO STEW

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• MAPLE WHISKEY/BOURBON PUMPKIN BUTTER
• SALTED CARAMEL APPLE BUTTER

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• CORN BREAD TAMALE PIE
• MAPLE WHISKEY BOURBON PUMPKIN BUTTER
  
• CREAMY LEMON PARMESAN CHICKEN

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week started fairly SLOWLY, but then took own a life of its own… and by the time it was over I was putting out fires all over the place and trying to cover shifts at the Eagles because so many people are coming down quite sick. I spent Saturday and Sunday avoiding people and staying home to watch the NFL playoff games. (YAY Jean)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It’s been absolutely beautiful this past weekend after the fog FINALLY cleared and we once again saw the sun. Unfortunately, clear nights also mean COLD nights in the mid 20’s.  We’ve been lucky to see 40 degrees during the day. Obviously we’re still in layer season 🙂 with UGGs and comfy flannels.

ON MY MIND

 On this holiday Monday I decided this quote was perfect! Now if the rest of the world would just listen!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING YAY!! COMPLETELY caught up! GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a pedicure on Wednesday and lunch with a girlfriend on Thursday before we leave for a quick trip to the coast on Friday. PROJECTS & TRAVELS We’re going to a charity CRABFEST on Saturday with friends and have a quiet weekend at the coast and antiquing – kind of an early Valentine’s weekend since we have Eagle’s functions the first two weekends of February. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

STREAMING We’ve been watching BONES and also started watching CROSSING JORDAN as well. CABLE Waiting for the new season to begin again.

READING TIME

I’m back to falling asleep so quickly I forget what I’ve read and end up reading the same paragraph over and over days on end 🙁 I’m STILL just about done with THE ROSE CODE by Kate Quinn and am going to start LILAC INK THE KNOCKNASHEE STORY by Jean Grainger

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

	1/20 MONDAY	1/21 TUESDAY	1/22 WEDNESDAY	1/23 THURSDAY	1/24 FRIDAY	1/25 SATURDAY	1/26 SUNDAY
DINNER	REUBEN SOUP & GRILLED CHEESE	PORK CHOPS with SPINACH SAUCE and HALUSKI	FLANK STEAK, SMASHED TATERS & GLAZE CARROTS	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	OUT OF TOWN	OUT OF TOWN	OUT OF TOWN
DESSERT		WACKY CAKE

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Meet TITO, an adorable puppy I saw last week. I popped in to pick up a couple things from our local co-op and found Linda snuggling this little guy that another customer was out and about socializing. I think TITO likes socializing 😀

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

MAPLE WHISKEY PUMPKIN BUTTER SALTED CARAMEL APPLE BUTTER

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• APPLE WALNUT CAKE with CARAMEL GLAZE
  
• BACON CHEESEBURGER BALLS
  
• TEXAS TRASH DIP aka CHEESY BAKED COWBOY DIP

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• CHILE CORNBREAD SALAD
• APPLE LEMON BUNDT CAKE
• CLASSIC BURGERS with BACON AIOLI

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

WEEKEND RECAP

I don’t care for Christmas and New Years falling in the middle of the week! Last Wednesday felt like a Sunday and I was messed up for the rest of the week! I’m looking to return to a routine this week!

So our “weekend” really began last Wednesday. We watched the Rose Parade, went and saw a friend who had to work (fortunately she runs a bar and grill so we got breakfast) and then watched the Rose Bowl before we ate Black Eyed Pea Chili made from our left over Christmas Prime Rib for dinner.

I spent Thursday cleaning the refrigerator and freezer and making an inventory list for both to start the year out fresh. Fortunately, it was also trash day, so that helped a lot. The woman who normally mans the Eagle’s kitchen for me on Thursdays had to bow out because her grandson came down with the flu virus while he was staying with her and we didn’t want to expose people, so I ended up covering for her.

Friday we were getting a bit of cabin fever from all the rain so decided to take a drive down to the river and were rewarded with a fantastic new little restaurant. On the way we encountered a barn that made me think of Jean so I took a picture for her. But, Jean and Carrie, I’m so sorry about the Chiefs and Packers yesterday 🙁

The rest of Friday through Sunday was spent de-cluttering and washing linens from Christmas and beginning to pack it all away for another year. I’ll finish packing away Christmas today. We also watched A LOT of football for the final regular season day.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

While the temperatures are still supposed to be in the 40’s we are supposed to FINALLY dry out a bit this week, at least enough to dry out a bit and not be so soggy. That said, nighttime lows will be much lower with clear skies.

ON MY MIND

I was so saddened to wake up on the 1st to hear about all the senseless terror situations in New Orleans, Las Vegas and all over the world! I pray for an answer every day to the senseless violence!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll need to deep clean after I finish putting away the Christmas decorations. I also am going to try and deep clean the baseboards. Fortunately, I’m up to date on the laundry. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ve searched high and low for an 11×14 frame for my small jewelry tree and finally resorted to ordering one from Amazon. I TRIED to shop local!!! PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m trying to finish my jewelry “forest” so I can get it packed away until next Christmas. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING working on next week’s menu

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

STREAMING We finished season 6 of Virgin River and Man on the Inside – can’t wait for the new seasons of both. HALLMARK When Calls the Heart’s new season started last night. I’m excited for the changes that this new season will bring. And The Way Home started last Friday. CABLE New season starts this week so we’ll see – looks like a couple of promising new shows. THEATRE I saw a preview for FLIGHT RISK (opens 1/24) with Mark Wahlberg that looks like it’s going to be pretty good.

READING TIME

I’m reading The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. I LOVE WWII stories that empower women! The new book club book was supposed to be announced last night, so we’ll see what her “wheel of chance” chose for us. We’ve all been feeding her titles and to make it fair she’s using an APP that chooses at random. I just checked again and the book has been chosen, NONE Of This Is TRUE by Lisa Jewell. So many of the titles the others are throwing out have such a sinister true crime, psychological thriller type vibe to them, not titles I would choose on my own 🙁 we’ll try another month and see what comes of it.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

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

 

	1/6 MONDAY	1/7 TUESDAY	1/8 WEDNESDAY	1/9 THURSDAY	1/10 FRIDAY	1/11 SATURDAY	1/12 SUNDAY
DINNER	NUMERO UNO PIZZA REMAKE	COCA COLA PORK LOIN with CARROT CASSEROLE	PIZZA EGG ROLLS	BEEF & BBQ BEAN STEW	GREEN CHICKEN CHILE	SWEET CORN DIP & HOT DOGS	BEEF & NOODLES
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES POSTING THIS WEEK

• CREAMY LEMON PARMESAN CHICKEN
• CLASSIC BURGERS with BACON AIOLI
• SLOW COOKER TEX MEX CHICKEN

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

• CHICKEN TOSTADA CUPS
• COUNTRY FRENCH CHICKEN GARLIC SOUP

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

• SALT & VINEGAR CUCUMBERS
• PEASANT STEW
• NEW ENGLAND STYLE BAKED STUFFED CLAMS