HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY – Page 13 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 37 of 2022

I absolutely LOVE doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively that it helps keep me on track and it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for me to follow this week. 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 hope you are all doing well and have had a good week/weekend doing something fun. The kids are all back in school, fall is just around the corner and even in the air, so I’m a pretty happy camper.

We have fires going in the area again, not too close, but close enough that we are having bad quality air due to smoke and it is super gray out 🙁 Fortunately we appear to be completely done with the 80’s through triple digits and this week is supposed to have highs in the mid to high 70’s and maybe, just maybe some rain (which we REALLY need) at the end of the week.

I have some grocery shopping and errands to run in town today so am wearing levi’s, comfy POPS and bright blue blouse. One of my errands is to pick up a cake for a friend’s birthday party tomorrow, but it won’t be available until after 2pm so I’m trying to time it so that is the last thing I pick up before heading home.

I found this funny on FaceBook over the weekend and it fits 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I finished the laundry on Saturday and vacuumed on Friday so I’m all up to date for now.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Even these are all caught up after today! 😀 I will be in town again for a friend’s birthday luncheon tomorrow so will pick up anything I may have forgotten then, but then not back in town until next week. Prices on gas are still so high and even grocery prices are freaking me out every week, so I make as few trips as possible and are condensing recipes, menus and lists as much as possible also.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS this never ending category is truly a bane to my existence lately. For everything item that comes off the list two new ones go on 🙁
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on October’s menu plan and trying to research some FRESH and different fall like recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX – I just finished LOCKE & KEY and we also just finished season 8 of NCIS reruns.
CABLE – COOKING SHOWS – GIRL MEETS FARM started back up and I’m enjoying GUY’S GAME NIGHT so far and I’m curious about Bobby Flay’s new show starting at the end of the month. SPORTS – Glad NFL has started again and sorry to start the playoffs for NASCAR. For once the DVR is all but empty waiting for the new season to begin. I was able to clean up the timers for recordings also.

I started 3 new books this week. I’m just having trouble deciding which genre and author to stick with. UNMISSING by Minka Kent, THE LOST GIRL OF PARIS by Pam Jenoff and THE LOST GIRLS OF WILLOWBROOK by Mary Ellen Wiseman.

Hmmm I only seemed to have taken food pictures this past week.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	BUFFALO CHICKEN ENCHILADAS & SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	CHICKEN & CHEESE QUESADILLA PIE & SALAD	ONE POT MARRY ME CHICKEN & ASPARAGUS POCKETS for my birthday	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	BEEF BURRITO BOWLS & SALAD	CHIPOTLE BLACK BEAN MEATBALLS with RICE & SALAD
DESSERT

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with WALNUT SAUCE
CRANRASPBERRY APPLE SLAB PAN PIE
RED CABBAGE SALAD
HAM & BROCCOLI ALFREDO BAKE
SWEET & SOUR CARROTS
CREOLE STYLE CHICKEN & RICE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 36 of 2022

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. 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 evenings have cooled off tremendously and are offering the first real hints of fall truly being in the air. I LOVE IT! We’re still supposed to have a few days with higher 80’s this week, but we’re at that time of year when it’s only for a couple hours of the day. So, basically I’m in heaven as Autumn is upon us. Levis and a peach plaid blouse with a teal stripe are the wardrobe choice for the day because the teal stripe matches my teal toes for September’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

The city announced over the weekend that there are 106 days to the Timber Town Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is WHOVILLE. I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Our little town’s population lines the streets every year for this parade despite the cold and a good time is had by all. Hubby and I have even already planned our picnic menu with hot toddy chocolate for our dinner while we wait.

Other than looking forward to the holidays I think this funny covers it all about what is going on around me/us in life itself 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be doing a deep clean of bedding this week, but the “regular” laundry is up to date 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I need to make a list and will go grocery shopping in a few days. I went last week and was so discouraged by what I “couldn’t” get even after visiting 3 separate stores! I was able to find several of the locally “non-existent” items on Amazon and was forced to order that way. Strange things like toothpaste, yellow peas, face soap…
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS a never ending category…
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING September is planned and I’m working on October. I just restocked with a Butcher Box of meat and am working September and October around cleaning out the pantry so I can restock fresh for 2023.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX – We finished NCIS season 7 and started season 8
AMAZON PRIME – Am about to finish season 4 NEWSRADIO
CABLE – Still cleaning out the DVR of Mysteries of the Abandoned and I caught up on Masterchef and American Ninja Warrior. Svengoolie was creepy this week with FROGS and we switched it off.

I just finished Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owens and adored the surprise ending! I’am waffling back and forth between The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent and The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman.

I didn’t take many pictures last week, but I did see this at a local brewery and am still laughing at the name. I really want to find out the story behind it.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHIP CRUSTED STUFFED CHICKEN	NACHOS CASSEROLE	CHICKEN & TOMATOES IN CREAM SAUCE	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	CHICKEN TACOS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA	BEEF STROGANOFF, GREEN BEANS & SALAD	STUFFED SHELLS & SALAD
DESSERT			CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BUNDT CAKE?

TACO PIE
FIG NEWTON CRISP
BLACK BEAN BROWNIES
CHEESY MANGO CHICKEN
BAKED CAULIFLOWER STEAKS
MEXICAN STREET CORN CHOWDER
PUMPKIN BUTTER PECAN CAKE with CARAMEL SAUCE & CINNAMON PECANS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS AND RECIPE LINKS week 35 of 2022

Good morning! How are you? I’ve had a strange and busy week with all sorts of family things and certainly hope your week was better than mine! I’ll just leave it at that and jump into starting this week differently. 😀

We’ve been in the high 80’s for day times with low’s in the mid 50’s, but with low humidity and cool ocean breezes. So, I am NOT complaining. In the evening especially you can just feel fall coming our way! It has also been super sunny with virtually no clouds. I’m up and ready to go in comfy worn Levis and a favorite chambray blouse.

Obviously I am sooooooooo ready for fall. Just to keep you also in the loop as fall looms in front of us: My local grocery store is already stocking pumpkins.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get all the laundry done on Saturday including the bedding and towels 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has a physical therapy appointment for his back today and I will pick up a couple things while we’re in town but, I will do the majority of the shopping when I’m in town Thursday for my pedicure.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Same old same old B.S. dealing with the inept clerical staff of a couple places. :SIGH: and :SMH: continuously at the lack of logic reasoning of people. The best example I have is my primary doctor’s office who obviously made a clerical error on data input. They sent me a bill for $24. I paid them with a check for $24. They credited my account for $9. My bank cashed the check for $24. I printed them a copy of the check and took it to them on my last visit – you know the one for my “new patient” visit. They have called me and now want proof of who cashed the check. My logic says it was a key stroke error since they posted a payment to my account and that they need to look at their own data for that date to correct it. They want me to contact the bank for a paper copy of the check to prove they were the ones that cashed it. Like I said, WTH?
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on some round up themes for the fall months like casseroles, soups, stews and chilis.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX – We’ve just finished NCIS season 6 and will probably start season 7 tonight. I’m almost done with season 4 of Virgin River and hope to finish season 2 of Locke & Key later this week.
AMAZON PRIME – Have been debating watching TOP GUN MAVERICK
CABLE – I’ve cleaned out the DVR and cleaned up all the “timers” for our regular shows. I did the research on the returning and new shows trying to pare down what will be taping this fall. I even eliminated a couple cooking shows.

If you’ve never read Heather Webber, I highly recommend her books. I just finished In the Middle of Hickory Lane and was sad it was over 🙁 It was that good.

I’ve finally started Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and am really loving it.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN CORN CASSEROLE and make the CRACK CHICKEN for tomorrow’s casserole	CRACK CHICKEN CASSEROLE and FRESH SLICED TOMATOES	SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS with SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	PICKLED BEET GOAT CHEESE SALAD	CHIP CRUSTED STUFFED CHICKEN with FRESH SLICED TOMATOES	CRANBERRY CHICKEN SALAD
DESSERT

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & LINKS week 34 of 2022

That said, here’s an interesting article about Pumpkin Spice.

You know how life seems to be falling into place and you’re happy to be making headway? And then WHAMMO all of a sudden the rug gets yanked out from under your feet? Well, that describes my past weekend EXACTLY! It literally all happened within 24 hours time.

We had an amazing anniversary dinner at the Parrott House on Thursday night, made some Thanksgiving and Christmas plans… then received a couple phone calls Friday that put EVERYTHING up in the air…

Prayers and positive thoughts would be extra welcome this week as we deal with an uncle who was suddenly diagnosed with Acute Leukemia and immediately hospitalized for immediate treatment for the next week.

Breakfast is of course hot water and yogurt 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY, CLEANING, YARD No major projects this week and the laundry is all caught up. The zucchini plant is all but spent and the cherry tomatoes are about toast also, but the larger heirloom tomatoes are doing quite well.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an “establishing care for new patient” appointment this week. This ticks me off on soooooo many levels. 1) I am not a new patient, I’ve been with the practice for over 3 years (this time – we were in Texas for a couple years in the middle), but overall 12 years. My primary care doctor left the practice last December. They have “assigned’ me 4 different doctors since then, none of which stayed with the practice requiring me to get new doctors each time, all of which left before I was seen. 2) I have medical conditions (Systemic Lupus, Cancer though knock on wood I’m in remission, my stomach removal… that ALL require “maintenance” and cannot be “cured” by yoga or anything of that nature – not that there is anything wrong with yoga, but it CANNOT replace me seeing my oncologist once a year or my endocrinologist for the reactive hypoglycemia and diabetes – you get the picture. So why, oh why have they place me with a D.O. instead of an M.D.? I am going to meet with her and hope that she straddles the line with the obvious. I don’t need many groceries or have too many errands this week, but will work them into the day of that appointment.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I’m almost completely caught up in this category! I do have to share a “funny” story though. Several weeks ago I sent an appeal for a medical claim by certified mail. I mean you know how the military AND the mail are so I wanted proof that it got there. On Tuesday I picked up the mail from the post office and had a request for 60 cents due on a letter from the Department of Defense. I assumed it was something for my husband and then realized it was addressed to me. Long story short it was a “confidential” notification of receipt of my appeal, which of course I already knew since I sent it registered so I had tracking. They folded it nicely in a legal size envelope and then put that inside of an 8×11 manilla envelope. Put a stamp on the front of it and sent it my way, postage due and all.
BLOG POSTS, RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I seem to be getting back into the swing of things and even more organized so am quite happy with where I’m at. I have a couple months of scheduled recipes set to go and have started a preliminary BLOGMAS schedule that will start the day after Thanksgiving this year and go all the way through King’s day. I’m outlining holiday menus too. I also have several ideas for new recipes that I’m developing.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX NCIS season 5, the movie FINAL SCORE with Dave Bautista and Pierce Brosnan was quite good, the movie UNCHARTED was a fun Mark Wahlberg movie
AMAZON PRIME BOTTOM OF THE NINTH was a good redemption movie with Sophia Vergara and Joe Manganiello, LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN season 1, LOVE & MONSTERS
DISNEY + SHE HULK ATTORNEY
CABLE SYFY On Saturday nights hubby and I watch really old SVENGOOLIE movies – even have a bowl of popcorn. This week was THE LAND UNKNOWN, an old black and white from 1957 about a crash landing in Antarctica where the survivors find themselves in a prehistoric world. 🙁 FUN/DOCUMENTARY American Pickers, Mysteries of the Abandoned NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – BBQ USA with Michael Symon, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, Masterchef, Big Bad Budget Battle

I just started WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by DELIA OWENS. I have been reading exclusively on kindle for several years now, but a friend loaned me a “REAL” book and I’m enjoying it immensely. I have to admit though that I much prefer kindle at night because of the back light on my Paperwhite device.

The sunset last Wednesday night was absolutely AMAZING. We finished the power washing and actual pruning for our elderly friend that had a hip replaced 3 weeks ago. So far I’ve bagged ten 33 gallon bags of yard debris and have about that many more to go. But, the hard part is over. I’ve filled her bird feeders – both regular bird seed and hummingbird. Did they miss her! Look how much they’ve eaten in less than 48 hours! The birds have been plentiful and thankful!

Had to make some last minute menu changes, so, this has become a casserole week. I had been saving many of these recipes for next month to begin fall with.

	8/22 MONDAY	8/23 TUESDAY	8/24 WEDNESDAY	8/25 THURSDAY	8/26 FRIDAY	8/27 SATURDAY	8/28 SUNDAY
DINNER	NACHOS CASSEROLE	AMISH COUNTRY CASSEROLE	CORNY CHICKEN CASSEROLE	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	TEX MEX BACON CHEESE BURGER BAKE for EAGLES MEAL	CRACK CHICKEN CASSEROLE	CHICKEN & CHEESE QUESADILLA PIE
DESSERT					LEMON DROP CAKE

SNOW PEA SALAD
ORANGE PICNIC CHICKEN
RASPBERRY RICOTTA ALMOND CAKE
GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD with LIME VINAIGRETTE
PAN SEARED PORK CHOPS, BRAISED RED CABBAGE & APPLES

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & LINKS week 33 of 2022

Good morning my friends! I hope that you all had a wonderful week and are healthy and happy. I know many of you have kids that just went back to school or are about to, effectively bringing your summer to an end. 😀

Hey guys, I hate to be the one to point this out, but, Halloween is only 77 days away which also means there are only 101 days until Thanksgiving and 132 until Christmas! I saw Halloween costumes for sale when I was in Costco the other day and worse yet I saw Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations in Joanne’s last Friday.

It seems like the days are just flying by and while we are still in the throes of summer, fall is almost here which will go by all to fast for my liking and then Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here bringing in winter which I love.

Hot water and my last Raspberry Lemonade yogurt are breakfast. I’m hoping that I can find some more yogurt when I go shopping this morning, but it is a flavor that has been hard to find. 🙁

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get everything up to date and tidy over the weekend.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m running into town this morning to do my grocery shopping and then running to water Trudy’s yards on my way home.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS We’re going to take a day and go bowling later this week and are planning a trip to the butterfly farm. Thursday is our anniversary and we’ll be going out for a nice dinner. Because it’s a Thursday there shouldn’t be a crowd.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING August is completely planned manu wise and I’m still working on a “LINK” week in September for some new recipes. I’m really trying to work the next several months around the freezer and pantry to clear out everything I can. At the end of the year I’m going to donate anything leftover to the food pantry so I can reorganize and downsize everything.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We’ve finished NCIS through season 4. Locke & Key season 2 is here so we just began that. We also watched DOOM Anihilation.
DISCOVERY + MYSTERIES at the MUSEUM
CABLE On Saturday nights hubby and I watch really old SVENGOOLIE movies – even have a bowl of popcorn. But, this week it just wasn’t any fun so we switched it off. FUN/DOCUMENTARY American Pickers, Mysteries of the Abandoned NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – BBQ USA with Michael Symon, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, Masterchef, Big Bad Budget Battle

I just finished Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune #23 SWAMP SPIRITS and loved it, as always a fun read!

We went to the County Fair last Friday, and while I’m used to MUCH larger fairs, the one thing about ANY county fair is how cute the animals are. We love seeing the FFA and 4H kids and their animals. Unfortunately, I always have higher hopes for the other categories 🙁 There were very few quilts and homemaking entries which I found very disappointing. 🙁 In our old area it would have taken us 2 days to do the WHOLE fair – here it took only 2-3 hours.

	8/15 MONDAY	8/16 TUESDAY	8/17 WEDNESDAY	8/18 THURSDAY	8/19 FRIDAY	8/20 SATURDAY	8/21 SUNDAY
DINNER	TACO PIE & SALAD	PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLIDERS & SALAD	BEEF BURRITO BOWLS	OUR ANNIVERSARY dinner out at the PARROT HOUSE	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	STRAWBERRY CHICKEN SALAD	KENTUCKY HOT BROWN SLIDERS & SALAD
DESSERT			RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE BUNDT CAKE				RASPBERRY ALMOND RICOTTA CAKE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & LINKS week 32 of 2022

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

This past week was EXTREMELY pleasant and it looks like it will continue into this week – YAY for us here 😀 Afternoons have gotten quite warm and even a bit sticky a couple days, but all and all it has been very pleasant with a cool ocean breeze.

I’m going to be puttering around here all day so just have on some worn out Levis, a favorite old t-shirt and am barefoot. 😀

Well, we all know how this category goes for me – it’s quite boring! Hot water and Raspberry Lemonade yogurt for me.

As for how I’m feeling… mainly good, but a bit anxious by all that is going on in this world… Omicron variant COVID cases are on the rise here locally and I have a few friends who have been struck badly by it, multiple global tensions exacerbated by bad political decisions, prices and greed, lack of ethics, staffing issues, weird weather phenomena – excessive heat, floods, drought and strange storms, medical provider issues… etc … Why can’t we all just be kind to one another and look out for each other.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get all the laundry done on Saturday while I was making FRESH tomato sauce from some of the many tomatoes that are finally turning ripe. I had started the plants last winter in my indoor aero garden and while they are SUPER tasty, they are quite strange plants – very tight and compact in stature with super dark green leaves and you really have to hunt “inside” the plant for the ripe tomatoes. I used some homemade chicken bone broth I made last Friday as a base with the homegrown tomatoes so was quite happy the outcome.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS A couple of appointments in town this week on Tuesday and Thursday and will work in the groceries and errands into those days. Hubby and I are going to go to the county fair on Friday which is always fun in a rural area. I just love seeing the kids and their 4H animals. My new glasses should be in this week and I’m hoping to coordinate picking them up with the existing schedule.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I FINALLY got some resolution on one of the long term issues that has been going on and was able to get 2 more appeals out that have been pending, I have yet another 2 more to get done this week. It’s so frustrating that those who should be in the “know” make you jump through hoops and red tape providing the same documentation over and over and over… to get to the obvious outcome when they already have the data they need in the file.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I ordered a how to make your own plant based proteins cookbook this past week that I’m hoping to try out the last week of the month. I’m also looking to do a week of trying new recipes that I’ve found on my WHERE I LIKE TO PARTY journeys that will feature other blogs. I saw a similar style post over at Miz Helen’s Cottage.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched The 2nd, NCIS season 2 and Recurrence
AMAZON PRIME We watched SHOCKWAVE Countdown to Disaster
PARAMOUNT + Hot in Cleaveland reruns
CABLE NASCAR, American NINJA Warrior, Svengoolie’s Devil’s Rain which had really BIG names in it, but a horrible plot – must have been from when they were still on salary and had to participate no matter what 😀

I haven’t been reading much, so am still reading last week’s book, Heather Webber’s, In The Middle of Hickory Lane and am going to savor it as she doesn’t publish as often as I’d like.

We took the back way home the other day. I’m still looking for that perfect picture of my favorite working barn. I’ll keep trying.

And I was really surprised to see the osprey in their nests this late in the year. It’s been a late blooming kind of year.

	8/8 MONDAY	8/9 TUESDAY	8/10 WEDNESDAY	8/11 THURSDAY	8/12 FRIDAY	8/13 SATURDAY	8/14 SUNDAY
DINNER	PEPPER JELLY CHICKEN and ROASTED CAULIFLOWER STEAKS	BLOODY MARY POT ROAST and MASHED POTATOES & GREEN BEANS	TUNA CASSEROLE & TOMATO TART	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	ORANGE PECAN CHICKEN, RICE PILAF & MUSHY PEAS	ULTIMATE CHICKEN CASSEROLE & SALAD	CHICKEN COBB SALAD and TWISTY ROLLS
DESSERT					CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 31 of 2022 with RECIPE LINKS & MENU PLANS

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 absolutely LOVE doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively so that it helps keep me on track and it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for me to follow this week.

Our heat has returned to a normal level of hot. I have to refrain from rolling my eyes and sighing every time someone complains about the heat and humidity here. Fortunately for me I’m from south east Texas and grew up in the desert of southern California so while it’s very warm here, it’s not going to be anywhere close to truly “humid” or anything close to “HOT” and is something that can be dealt with pretty easily by staying indoors as much as possible 😀 BUT that said, the winds shifted on Saturday and gave us an inversion layer of smoke that made it pretty muggy over the weekend, even for me. So, I spent a lot of time at the computer inputting recipes and getting pictures uploaded and posts scheduled for August. I’m actually going to be posting EVERY day in August which is a first in a long time for me. I’m hoping to do the same in September and October as I remake some recipe favorites to get better pictures. I need to spend some serious time in the winter then linking the recipes to the index.

Fortunately, we’re supposed to be in the mid-high 80’s this week with lows in the low 60’s, which is really tolerable.

I have a sundress, cute cover up and sandals on today as I’m heading to town to get my shopping done.

I’m going to have some yogurt and hot water before I go.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got all the laundry done on Saturday when we stayed in because the muggy smokey weather was just plain yucky!
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a long list and hope to accomplish it all today 😀
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS This is a never ending category. I swear EVERY time I get caught up with something two more things have taken its place 😀
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Our menu is made through the third week of August. I’m planning on sorting through older recipes on my food blog that need new pictures and work the menu around those through September. I KNOW A LOT of my early days of blogging had substandard pictures and I’m trying to update those as I can.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We started watching a new series, Keep Breathing and I started the new season of Virgin River. We’re just into season 2 of NCIS. We also watched Trading Paint with John Travolta and Shania Twain as well as Gray Man with Ryan Gosling was fun.
PARAMOUNT + We’re watching Hot in Cleaveland Reruns late at night.
CABLE NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEACH BRAWL, GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, SUPERMARKET STAKE OUT and BEAT BOBBY FLAY and a few CHRISTMAS in JULY HALLMARK MOVIES

I finally started Heather Webber’s In The Middle of Hickory Lane and am going to savor it.

Even here in our little small town burb we seem to encounter road work everywhere lately, even on the short cuts! LOL, the Pilot car took off and the sign still said STOP so he had to back up and remind her to turn the sign around so we could follow 😀 It was a slow go as the ENTIRE road from this point which is about 7/8 of the short cut route was complete gravel as they are literally redoing the ENTIRE road 😀

The fence post was the most exciting view I had while we waited for the sign to turn.

Callie is growing into THE cutest kitten! My friend who wants to adopt her has asked me to start calling her LuLu. 😀 and there was an AMAZING sunset on Wednesday night.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN ala ORANGE, RICE & VEGGIE	STEAK & TOMATO SALAD with CORN BREAD	CUBAN CHICKEN & RAMEN SALAD SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	CHICKEN BLT PASTA SALAD, HONEY BEER BREAD	MEXICAN MEATLOAF & MARMALADE CARROTS	BALSAMIC CHICKEN PEACH SALAD
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BUNDT CAKE			CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD PUDDING

RUM RAISIN CARROT CAKE
COCONUT MACAROONS
SHORT CUT APPLE PIE CUPCAKES
CHEESY SNACKS
JALAPENO POPPER WONTON CUPS
SWEET & SOUR BRISKET

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 30 of 2022 with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS

Well the heat wave has finally reached the Pacific North West. Fortunately for me I’m from south east Texas and grew up in the desert of southern California so while the heat is going to be hotter than normal for here, it’s not going to be humid AND something I can deal with pretty easily 😀

We’ll be in triple digits all week so I’ll be doing more indoor activities, only watering early in the morning and after the sun sets. At least the nighttime lows will be in the 60’s cooling it down for some nice mornings.

Bare feet and flip flops are my friends this summer! I’m wearing my favorite capris and a lightweight blouse.

Oh and today is the 25th, so you know what that means? It’s time to weigh in on the countdown to Christmas with a public service announcement. I took advantage of PRIME DAY to source out a couple gifts and stocking stuffers. Please don’t hate me 😀

My friend found me a yogurt for me that it my new favorite! It’s Chobani’s Raspberry Lemonade. It actually makes breakfast a little less boring with so few options. It’s almost like having a dessert the flavor is

They also have a strawberry cheesecake that is quite good 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Completely done, or at least good for now since it’s a never ending process 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Not much going on this week at all except picking up what I need for the 3 dozen Apple Pie Cupcakes I’m making for the Eagles Friday night dinner.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still working on the same pile and issues :SIGH: Seems like for every one thing handled two more take its place.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I had the menu planned out through August and then a few snags came up and I just got through re-working it. I am in charge of 2 Friday night dinners (the first and the last Friday) at the Eagles in August. The first one will be BLT Chicken Pasta Salad with Honey Beer Bread and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding. The last one is Tex Mex Bacon Cheeseburger Bake with Broccoli Coleslaw and Lemon Drop Cake.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched the Gray Man with Ryan Gosling which was far fetched, but okay.
AMAZON PRIME We watched the movie Ice Soldiers and started the series Star Trek Strange New Worlds
PARAMOUNT + OLD NewsRadio reruns, though we never saw it the first time through 😀 OLD Hot in Cleaveland reruns – just LOVE Betty White, OLD 3rd Rock From the Sun reruns which are just goofy, but fun.
CABLE On Saturday nights hubby and I watch really old SVENGOOLIE movies – even have a bowl of popcorn.This week was BRIDES OF DRACULA. FUN/DOCUMENTARY American Pickers, Mysteries of the Abandoned NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – BBQ USA with Michael Symon, Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, Masterchef

I’m between reads since I finished the Charlotte Dean series that I REALLY enjoyed. I certainly hope there are more to come from that author. I have a pre-order that will arrive tomorrow on Kindle for Heather Webber’s In The Middle of Hickory Lane so am trying to hold off on starting anything new for now.

The kittens are getting so BIG and have become great little mousers, a much desired trait since we live on the edge of the highway. Mom is starting to look more like herself again too! She likes to eye the hummingbirds, but leaves them alone fortunately. I’ve never had so many hummingbirds that actually perch and sit still – so cute!

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	HOT HONEY PORK CHOPS & GRILLED POTATO CORN SALAD	GREEK CHICKEN & SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	COLA GLAZED PORK LOIN, PEROGIES & SALAD	CHICKEN & DRESSING BAKE with MUSHY PEAS	CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SNOW PEA SALAD	SONORAN CLAM CHOWDER & CHEESY SNACKS
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BUNDT CAKE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 29 of 2022 with RECIPE LINKS & MENU PLANS

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.

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

It was a really productive weekend here. I got a surprise call late Friday morning and the sprinkler guy who was supposed to be calling me to schedule an appointment was able to show up a couple weeks early and same day! He was here for several hours and was able to fix one part of a 2 or 3 part problem and while we still have a problem he was able to rule out several other potential issues.

It’s been toasty here, but only for a few hours a day. We’ve been cooling off really well at night so I have no real complaints. 😀

I know I’m tired of feeling this way, so you’re tired of hearing it, but I’m constantly worried about everything going on in the world 🙁 I just pray and pray for things to turn around and soon. Breakfast is a never changing palette for me so guess what I’m having this morning? You got it, Hot water and yogurt 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Completely up to date – can’t say that often! I even did a major clean on the oven.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby and I need to make a run to the transfer station to get rid of some junk. We each have appointments this week so I will get the few errands done when we are in town for those. We are laying low the next couple weeks. COVID cases are on the rise here (AGAIN), people are back to mask wearing with the threat of it being mandatory soon AND with the World Athletic Championships just up the road a ways from us there are a lot of unknowns in town so we’re playing the BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY card and avoiding ALL unknowns.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still whittling down my pile, BUT LOL it seems like 2 things replace every one I get finished!
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Still working on August and am now also providing 2 meals and a dessert for the Eagles next month. Each of those are for 40 people. So, I made a few samples (Tex Mex bacon cheeseburger bake, chicken BLT pasta salad, snap pea coleslaw, honey beer bread, apple pie cupcakes, chocolate chip banana bread pudding and chocolate macaroons) this past weekend for a friend who will be helping me to sample.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

PRIME WHITE SKY, JURASSIC PARK FALLEN – getting ready to see WORLD DOMINION
PARAMOUNT+ STAR TREK DISCOVERY, NEWS RADIO, HOT IN CLEVELAND, THE NANNY, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN
CABLE NASCAR, COOKING SHOWS – FOOD TRUCK RACE, BEACH BRAWL, GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, SUPERMARKET STAKE OUT and BEAT BOBBY FLAY and a few CHRISTMAS in JULY HALLMARK MOVIES

I didn’t get much reading accomplished last week and am still reading books 3 & 4 of Phillipa Nefri Clark’s Charlotte Dean mystery series.

The momma cat and kittens haven’t been around much, but made an appearance yesterday for a few hours. 😀 I could only get a few pictures though.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	We were going to have some SMOKEY WINGS but then we received a better offer for wine and BBQ on the neighbor’s deck 😀	SMOKEY WHISKEY WINGS, COLESLAW & DOWN HOME BAKED BEANS	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	STUFFED BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS & RANCH SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	HOT HONEY PORK CHOPS & GRILLED POTATO CORN SALAD	CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SALAD
DESSERT		LEMON DROP CAKE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 28 of 2022 with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS

Today is going to be REALLY warm (for us), BUT, I will not complain! By comparison to the rest of the country it’s absolutely beautiful here!

I’m having so many conflicting feelings about EVERYTHING going on in the world these days! I keep thinking it all has to level out and life will go back to a relative normal, but then something new happens and I see those “normally” reasonable people around me are at each other snapping, arguing and disagreeing about the simplest of things… when will this merry go round stop so we can take a break?

Today will quite warm so I have no real intention of going outside much. Levis, bare feet and a favorite t-shirt is my attire. 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Everything is pretty clean and the laundry is done for now.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Have an appointment in town tomorrow so am putting together my lists to get everything done at the same time. 😀
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Still working on a few things, but have made serious headway. 😀
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Beginning to research for lighter August meals and need to pull together a couple recipes for the Eagles Auxiliary meals and desserts.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched WILD CARD with Jason Stratham and AWAKE
CABLE Last week for the 4th we watched JAWS, INDEPENDENCE DAY and INDEPENDENCE DAY RESURGENCE. Svengoolie’s The Deadly Mantis is cued up as are cooking shows like The Food Truck Race, Beat Bobby Flay, Beachside Brawl and Supermarket Stakeout

I’m on books 3 & 4 of Phillipa Nefri Clark’s Charlotte Dean mystery series.

We were going to go to the annual Graffitti weekend car show last Saturday, but the event we were particularly interested in was moved from where it “usually” held to a smaller, hard to get to, lack of parking location and decided to forgo it for a picnic and hike along the river. The river is still quite high for this time of year and was absolutely gorgeous. The area is really beginning to bounce back from the Archie fire almost 2 years ago. We started with favorite sandwiches from the trading post. LOL I will still be eating my sandwich tomorrow!

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	GRILLED CHICKEN SPINACH ARTICHOKE PASTA BAKE	ENCHILADAS SUIZA & SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	SKILLET PASTA with VODKA SAUCE & SALAD	JALAPENO POPPER WONTON CUPS	SWEET & SOUR BRISKET and GRUYERE POTATO GRATIN	SHEET PAN PANCAKES
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD PUDDING			LEMON DROP CAKE & NO CHURN ICE CREAM	COCONUT MACAROONS	PEACH COBBLER

TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
CORN SALSA SALAD
JALAPENO HONEY STICK WINGS

CRISPY CHEDDAR CHICKEN
BALSAMIC MOZZARELLA WATERMELON SALAD

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 27 of 2022

Happy 4th of July! It’s Independence Day! I hope you have something FUN planned for today. I also hope everyone stays safe if you are doing fireworks!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful!! I have ZERO complaints 😀

I’m really trying to take just one day at a time! I’m really happy that I have no where to go today and nothing to do that I don’t want to 🙂 We’re just going to hang out, do a little grilling and minimal cooking to make the potato salad and apple crisp for dinner.

Breakfast is my normal hot water and yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get everything accomplished on Sunday so we can just relax and play today. 🙂
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have my mammogram and a pedicure tomorrow so will try to get most errands and shopping accomplished between these 2 appointments. When I’m in town like that I would normally get a mini snack quesadilla and ice tea at Del Taco but, sadly it burnt down a few days ago in the middle of the night. 🙁 It’s so hard for me to eat out for lunch and that was one thing that agreed with me. 🙁
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I finished my quarterly “LIST” update that I’ve been doing along with Jean – you can find it here. Despite this being a shorter week I’m bound and determined to finish a pile on my desk that’s been getting shuffled around when other things have come to the forefront.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m good through July despite some last minute changes, but am starting to work on August. I had been putting off working on August, but since we’re pushing our trip to September I need to start thinking more seriously about it.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX We watched quite a few on this streaming channel this past week. Back Trace with Sylvester Stallone, The Man From Toronto with Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart, The Do-Over with Adam Sandler and David Spade, The Mist based on a Stephen King story and Coin Heist
PRIME Killer Joe – not a favorite 🙁 though I love Matthew McConaughey normally.
CABLE Tried to watch Taxi Driver as I had never seen it and deleted it pretty quickly – not my kind of movie! Cooking shows, NASCAR

I’ve really been liking this Australian author Phillipa Nefri Clark and have started her Charlotte Dean Mystery Series. I’m just finishing Book #1 Deadly start and will follow up with #2 Deadly Falls. There are 5 in the series that take place over a year in time. The series is a follow up to the River’s End series I just finished.

Hubby and I took a painting class last Saturday and it wasn’t as easy as it looked like it would be! THIS IS CERTAINLY A WORK IN PROGRESS! Imagine an adirondack chair or two under the umbrella with a cooler and maybe a corona on top 😀 That was my original plan so we’re still a long ways off! I may start completely over and lose the clouds altogether!

AND A FUNNY 😀

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	GRILLED STEAKS, POTATO SALAD & APPLE HAND PIES	CHILI CHICKEN, POTATO SALAD AND MELON BALLS	STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC CHICKEN SALAD	PAPRIKA CHICKEN & SNAP PEA SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR OR YOUR ON YOUR OWN NIGHT	CHICKEN with TOMATO CREAM SAUCE, MASHED POTATOES & SALAD	BBQ PORK CHOPS, POTATO SALAD & MELON
DESSERT	GRANNY’S APPLE CRISP

CORN SALSA SALAD
GARLIC BUTTER PARSLEY CHICKEN
WINE MARINATED FROZEN GRAPES
BUFFALO CHICKEN MUFFINS or MEATBALLS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 26 of 2022

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 had a busy and productive weekend despite the heatwave that descended on us this past week. Yesterday I volunteered at the Eagles cooking and serving brunch for new members and brainstorming with a friend on some new recipe ideas. I also got some indoor chores accomplished.

I hate to be the bearer of this news, but we are officially at the midway mark for 2022 and Christmas is only 181 days from Christmas. Which also means we’re only 187 days from the new year, 2023.

We began a heatwave over the weekend and while it isn’t as horrible as so many others are experiencing everywhere else in the country and the world or as bad as the southern California desert when I was a kid, it did happen literally overnight for us! Last weekend I needed a jacket when we went to dinner with our niece and her boyfriend. We went from early spring type temperatures to summer temperatures hitting triple digits yesterday in literally just days. We’re slated for the low to mid 90’s with lots of sunshine yet today and then it will incrementally drop back into the 70’s by next weekend. At least there’s no humidity to speak of. 😀

Mt heart hurts. 🙁 I don’t normally get political in these posts. I’m all about personal space and people doing what is right for themselves.

Personally, I DO NOT believe in abortion, BUT it is NOT my place to decide what is right for anyone else and in what instance! You can be both PRO LIFE and PRO CHOICE. So I don’t think the government (federal or state) having the control to make that decision for them is a good thing either. It’s a personal choice between a woman, her family and her doctor – there are too many gray areas…. We do not live in other people’s lives or bodies. I have enough trouble making the right decisions for myself… As a woman I can see the potential for so many other issues that women have been fighting against for so many years…

But! No matter your religious, moral or ethical beliefs… This isn’t ONLY about abortion…

Government control over personal rights and how you act/react on YOUR PERSONAL religious, moral or ethical beliefs… The biggest point to be had in the events from this week is that this is only the beginning of an agenda and that it opens MANY, MANY doors… doors that COULD send us spiraling backwards in society on soooooooooo many levels.

Between the political upheaval, COVID, earthquakes, floods, massive heat waves, spiraling economy and inflation… I PRAY we see relief from all of these things, but more importantly that people wake up and realize that we are NOT in control here and need to act accordingly… As I said, my heart just hurts 🙁

You guessed it 😀 … Hot water and peach yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Finished the laundry over the ungodly hot weekend while staying indoors.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a small list for this week, but will work it in with a doctor appointment this afternoon. I also have a painting class Saturday afternoon and have convinced hubby to tag along and do a date night.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I need to update the quarterly follow-up for the yearly list I’m doing along with Jean to post on Friday. I’m finishing up a few pieces of correspondence that need followed up on also.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are done through July, but would like to find some fresh salads and new dressings/vinaigrettes for August.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Maze Runner – The Cure
DISNEY+ Doctor Strange Multiverse, FREE GUY with Ryan Reynolds
CABLE NASCAR races, Cooking Shows, The Haunting and a REALLY old black and white called Down Three Dark Streets with Broderick Crawford and HIGH SIERRA with Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino

I finished the River’s End series and am reading Last Known Contact by the same author. I’m really enjoying her.

There are many photos I could post here, but today is and always will be a tough day for me as it is the anniversary of my dad’s death. He was gone WAY TOO young and has been for WAY TOO long now 🙁 so instead I’m posting this old favorite of mine that was taking many years before I was even born.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	ENCHILADAS SUIZA	BBQ CHICKEN & CORN SALSA SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	CHILI & CORNBREAD	CHICKEN COBB SALAD & TWISTY ROLLS	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	BUFFALO CHICKEN MEATBALLS & HOT SLAW
DESSERT						BROWNIES?

OVEN BAKED CHICKEN & RICE with GRAVY
CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN THIGHS
BBQ MEATBALLS & BACON CHEDDAR BAKED POTATOES

TEX MEX BACON CHEESEBURGER BAKE
GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN
SHEET PAN SWEET & SPICY BBQ CHICKEN
WINE MARINATED FROZEN GRAPES
TOMATO CUCUMBER SALAD

Category: HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY