HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 21 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 will be super abbreviated today. We’re still traveling through tomorrow and getting an early start at parks, waterfall visits and hikes today. We stopped at a local store and picked up salami, cheese, crackers and fruit for a box lunch on the trail today.

It’s supposed to be gorgeous here today – mid 70’s and a light breeze. We were up at the 7,000 foot mark yesterday though and it was more breezy and quite chilly, so I’m layering in my comfiest Levi’s, a tank, a favorite lightweight flannel and hiking boots.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did most of the laundry from the trip at SIL’s house, but will have a week’s worth from the trip home along with the sheets and towels from before we left.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a pedicure on Thursday and will put together a grocery and errand list before I go.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things from before the trip that need to be handled this week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Your guess is as good as mine 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX ?? We did start the new Lincoln Lawyer series in the hotel last night and think we will like it.
  • PRIME ??
  • DISNEY+ ??
  • DISCOVERY + ??
  • CABLE Everything from the last 3 weeks on the DVR

I finished the girl from Channel Islands finally and need to move on to something much lighter so I began Mystic Falls, A Coyote Wells Mystery by Vickie McKeehan

Here’s where we were yesterday 😀 after we left Lassen Volcanic National park – More pictures to come later 😀

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
OUT
OUT
??
??
??
??
??
DESSERT
*

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 20 of 2022

Normally 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 the upcoming week, but this week will be abbreviated due to vacation time and enjoying the wonderful weather. Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Here’s a little funny for you to think about while I finish my vacation:

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

I’m still reading (just been too tired to get very far at night) The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book.

We were a small group (about half) this year, but I still literally have thousands of images to edit, but here are a couple of favorites.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
SIL’S CHOICE
SIL’S CHOICE
SIL’S CHOICE
SIL’S CHOICE
?? ON THE ROAD
?? ON THE ROAD
?? ON THE ROAD
 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU PLANS week 19 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

It was cold an rainy when we left home last Thursday, beautiful when we arrived here on Friday and not bad on Saturday. It turned SUPER windy and cold yesterday and is supposed to be in the 50’s and windy until we head down to the family reunion on Wednesday where it will be glorious!

Traveling is really hard for me and I have had a couple reactions, but ALL and ALL I’m doing pretty well, but keeping it simple with so much eating out. I’m also quite concerned about staying safe and well while traveling with COVID cases on the rise again. I’m quite worried that the current surge seems to have mutated making the vaccines less efficient.

HOT water and strawberry yogurt with some FRESH cherries we picked up at a roadside stand yesterday.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING – NONE I’m on vacation 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Wednesday we will arrive in town for the family reunion and will do all our shopping for the weekend.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS – NONE I’m on vacation 😀
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING – NONE I’m on vacation 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • whatever SIL decides 😀

I’m reading The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book.

I’ll have to do a post later with pictures from our overall trip, but for now I’m enjoying being at SIL’s house enjoying the country 😀 Here are some of her frogs, frog pond, honey bees, garden, flowers

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHAMISAL tennis club with nephew and his wife
Leftovers from last night’s dinner at The Whaling Station on Cannery Row
somewhere in SOLVANG with a different nephew and his family
cafe at the resort
FAMILY STREET TACO NIGHT at FAMILY REUNION
FAMILY REUNION POTLUCK – we’re bringing a 7 salad platter and an antipasto platter
OUT on the way home
DESSERT
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES FOR THE TRIP

 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 18 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

Welcome to another Monday as we begin May already! Can you believe how this year is flying by?! I hope everyone had a great week and did something incredibly spring like. We’ve been doing more walking when possible. I have a lot to get done this week so will jump right into today’s post.

We leave Thursday morning to go to my sister-in-law’s house for several days before we take her to the family reunion next week. So, I decided to check out the weather for here and there and am VERY happy with the sunshine we’re going to find at her house!! Despite the distance (600 miles away) temperatures will be about the same so I’ll pack for layering, but at least it won’t be that “wet” kind of cold that gets into your bones that we have here.

Hot water and cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a load of laundry to do before we leave on Thursday. I’m also packing in 3 bags to make the trip easier – 1 bag for the trip down, a larger one for being at SIL’s house (before and after) and another for the family reunion. Once we’re back at SIL’s I’ll do some laundry and pack the small one again for the trip home.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a bit to finish up before Wednesday so I can get them mailed before we leave Thursday, but am ahead of the game for a change.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX I’m up to date on Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias, but am still working my way through Firefly Lane.
  • PRIME Outer Range is getting a bit strange, but I still want to see where it goes.
  • TUBI Saturday night Svengoolie had a horrible remake of Invaders from Mars on and hubby wanted to see the original which we found it on TUBI. When it was over The Goonies came on which was fun for a nostalgic Saturday night 😀
  • CABLE COOKING Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beat Bobby Flay and Grocery Games, DUFF, Girl Meets Farm CRIME DRAMAS Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, The Rookie, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) COMEDIES Young Sheldon & Ghosts HALLMARK MOVIES When Calls the Heart DOCUMENTARIES Mysteries of the Abandoned SPORTS NASCAR

I’m started The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book,

but I also like lighter reading at times and and The Book of Sorrel by Jennifer Peel is great for 15-20 minutes before I fall asleep 😀

We took a nice walk the other evening after the day’s rain and before the night’s rain and were rewarded with some really pretty scenery and beautiful flowers.

Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses the LORD’s servant gave you: to Love the Lord your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, be loyal to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul. Joshua 22:5 CSB

* NEW RECIPE
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*BRUNSWICK STEW & HONEY ROLLS
*PATCHWORK SOUP & BUTTERMILK ROLLS
C.O.R.N Y.O.Y.O  clean out refrigerator night – you’re on your own
OUT somewhere ON THE ROAD
SIL CHOICE
SIL CHOICE
SIL CHOICE
DESSERT
 
BUTTERMILK BROWNIES TO TAKE SIL

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 17 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

We had a really nice weekend here. Got the patio furniture cleaned up and situated, watered all the new flowers that appear to be going to make it despite our late season snowstorm last week and the tomatoes I finally planted last week appear to be okay despite the weird weather!

We had an absolutely beautiful warm weekend with sunshine and temperatures in the high 70’s. This week though is starting cloudy and is supposed to be 15 degrees cooler than the weekend was with a couple days of rain. Welcome to spring in the Pacific Northwest. 😀

We’re getting ready to go to our annual family reunion and the uncertainty of the weather makes it tough pack 😀 I always pack in layers, but LOL inevitably wish I had something I didn’t bring.

Hot water & cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got most the laundry done over the weekend, but will have a load or two by the end of the week.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Need to get the oil changed before our trip next week, get the tires rotated and hubby needs a haircut.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a few things that I need to get done before we leave, but I made a huge dent in the pile yesterday.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Not planning past next week as we’ll be leaving for our annual family reunion, where menus are primarily SIL’s domain in May 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We watched EAGLE EYE that was quite good, BLUE MIRACLE with Dennis Quaid that was based on a true story and also quite good. And we started a new series that we may or may not stick with called YAKAMOZ 2-345
  • PRIME We watched 2 more episodes of OUTER RANGE
  • DISNEY+ We watched The Eternals – I normally enjoy MARVEL movies, but this one was quite long and kept jumping back and forth thousands of years to tell the story so was a bit hard to follow at times. I also re-watched Hawkeye with hubby one evening as he’d not seen it yet.
  • CABLE COOKING Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beat Bobby Flay and Grocery Games CRIME DRAMAS Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, The Rookie, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) COMEDIES Young Sheldon & Ghosts HALLMARK MOVIES When Calls the Heart DOCUMENTARIES Mysteries of the Abandoned SPORTS NASCAR

I’m just starting The Girl from Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat that is inspired by true events. It’s the story of a young Jewish woman trapped on the occupied island of Jersey during World War II. I love historical novels based on WWII so have high hopes for this book.

The local pond is still much higher than normal. This area is right next to the road and the “no trespassing” sign is usually standing about a foot out of water.

On Friday I went to a quilt show at the fair grounds and these are a few of my favorites.

*NEW RECIPES
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*BEEF & POTATO CASSEROLE
ENCHILADAS SUIZA & SALAD
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
*STEAK TIP SALAD & BUTTERMILK ROLLS
*BBQ PORK SANDWICHES & COLESLAW
*BRUNSWICK STEW & BISCUITS
BEEF STROGANOFF & GREEN BEANS
DESSERT
*BUTTERMILK BROWNIES

  • BAKED FRENCH ONION RICE
  • CHEESY ARTICHOKE CHICKEN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 16 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

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday! Ours was simple and quiet.The weather was still quite cool and was hopefully our last night of freezing weather because I REALLY need to get the tomato starters in the ground OUTSIDE because they are actually flowering and outgrowing to shoe box.

I made glazed ham steaks, scalloped potatoes, honey glazed carrots and homemade lemon curd and sour cherry jelly donuts. We delivered several of those to a friend who had to work today.

Maybe, just maybe, the weather is going to return to spring around here 😀 daytime in the 50’s and nighttime in the 40’s (mostly) and WET! I’m hoping to get the tomatoes moved from the shoe box on the kitchen table to the garden this week.

I’d been wishing I hadn’t packed away the heavier winter coats, but layers seem to be working for now. One day last week I actually had on 4 sweatshirts during the snow storm 🙂

Hot water & cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Deep clean is done, but have a load or two of laundry to do and a bit of vacuuming.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a booster for my booster today and will pick up a few groceries at that time. I also have a hair appointment later in the week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through the month.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV    If spring ever gets here, I’ll be outside more and watch less TV
  • NETFLIX MOVIES Spenser Confidential, Hudson Hawk – how did I not see this when it was new all those years ago? SHOWS I’m finishing the most recent season of Virgin River and just began the first season of Firefly Lane
  • PRIME Started the new series Outer Range – we’ll see where it goes
  • DISNEY+ I watched season 1 of Hawkeye
  • CABLE COOKING Tournament of Champions, Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beet Bobby Flay and Grocery Games CRIME DRAMAS Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) COMEDIES Young Sheldon & Ghosts and we’re trying the new How We Roll HALLMARK MOVIES When Calls the Heart DOCUMENTARIES Mysteries of the Abandoned SPORTS NASCAR, Football

I just finished books #1 Return to Sender and #2 In Name Only and I’m about to start Jennifer Peel’s Silent Partner, book #3 in the Pine Falls series

We had a strange springtime snow storm last week! Made for a strange trip to town in April.

*NEW RECIPES
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
*CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
*CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
*PORK CHOPS with TOMATOES and BAKED FRENCH ONION RICE
*MEXICAN BEAN PATCHWORK SOUP & BISCUITS
*CHILI CHICKEN
*CHEESY ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
DESSERT
*BUTTERMILK BROWNIES

  • JELLY DONUTS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 15 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

Hello there. I hope you all had a good week and spring has taken hold in your neck of the woods 😀 unlike here. I’m in spring cleaning mode myself trying to wait out mother nature 🙂

I found this funny on Facebook, but it fits so well! It has been a REALLY strange week – record heat (it was 88 last Thursday), wind, rain, hail, snow! And it looks like it isn’t over yet. That “S” word is still in the mix though it won’t be anything that sticks, but it’s still freezing almost every night. This time last year I had the garden planted and it was doing well. This year the starters are outgrowing the aero garden and yearning to go outside to play 🙂 I just hope the flower seeds I did plant when it got warm do make it.

Theraflu and cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Just a couple loads of laundry, a bit of ironing and general cleaning this week.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I need a few last minute things for Easter dinner and will make a run to town later this week after I get all my scraps of paper into a single list 😀
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Roofers will be here Monday FINALLY to finish repairs that began months ago! Dishwahser repairman will be here Tuesday – what a hassle using a warranty is when you’re not in a big city!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Looking for some lighter spring recipes, but not getting too crazy until after we get back from the family reunion in May.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Captain Nova
  • DISNEY+ Hawkeye
  • CABLE Cooking shows: Tournament of Champions, Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beet Bobby Flay and Grocery Games Crime Dramas: Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, Law & Order (Original Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (Original, Most Wanted & International) Comedies: Young Sheldon & Ghosts and we’re trying the new How We Roll Hallmark/Movies: A Royal Runway Romance and When Calls the Heart Documentaries: Mysteries of the Abandoned

I finished Jana Deleon’s Flame & Fortune, book #22 of the Miss Fortune series – just a fun read. Hubby even enjoys the audibles when we travel. And I have begun In Name Only by Jennifer Peel – book #2 in her series and have The Girl From Channel Islands, a WWII historical novel by Jenny LeCoat waiting in the wings that I can’t wait to get to.

I had a painting class last week for a spring picture. I still want to do some tweaks and layers, but I’m pretty happy with it.

I also started a Ukranian Art in a Box painting and am doing many, many layers to finish it. I have just begun the yellow layers. The studio is donating the proceeds to a family living out of a bomb shelter.

And then the next night hubby and I took a Ricotta Cheese making class at a local winery and had a delicious Italian meal of Crispy Pinwheel Hot Jelly Ricotta appetizers, Garlic Bread, Salad, Lasagna and Raspberry Almond Ricotta Cake made with it.

And what do you do on a cold and rainy afternoon? Play Mexican train of course 😀

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CALABRIAN CHILE CHICKEN PASTA
HOT HONEY GLAZED PORK CHOPS
SEARED STEAKS WITH SOY GLAZE
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
CHICKEN SPAGHETTI & HOT HOUSE SALAD
CHEESY ARTICHOKE CHICKEN & 5 CHEESE PASTA
GLAZED HAM STEAKS, SCALLOPED POTATOES, GLAZED CARROTS
DESSERT
APPLE CRUMBLE for a friend’s birthday
LIMONCELLO CAKE
 

  • SWEET & SOUR BRISKET
  • CALABRIAN CHILE CHICKEN PASTA

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & MENU PLANS week 14 of 2022

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes my past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for my upcoming week. Be sure to join us all for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

How is everyone? I hope you had a wonderful week full of sunshine and fun. I’m finally feeling a bit better and starting to get my energy back, but taking it easy until I’m 100%. Night times are the worst!

It started raining last night and we really need it, so I’m not upset about that, but that I have to go out in it 😀 We’re also having severe winds and with not feeling 100% and spring allergies I’d prefer staying in, but I had made lunch plans with an old friend before I knew it was going to rain so hopefully it will be during a lull in the wind and rain.

We’re in some serious “LAYER” weather and back to some cooler and wet weather this week despite the one day heatwave. I was a bit surprised by the “S” word being in the mix for later in the week. It’s not normal, but has been known to happen at this time of year. My girlfriend planned a birthday party for her boyfriend, an outdoor BBQ, a few years back and had to move the whole thing inside last minute when it snowed. Afternoon update: there are now 2 days with the “S” word being forecasted 🙂

I know there are still so many things on all our minds, but I’ve been praying for resolutions to the BIG things, COVID and its variants, Ukraine and Russia… And my cousin lost her husband on Saturday to end stage renal failure and diabetes. He was so young and I wish we were closer in distance (she’s 1000 miles away) so I could help her more 🙁

I’ve been “playing” along with Jean for a 2022 List of accomplishments. You can find the original post here and the quarterly up date at this link.

Theraflu (I’m still waking up with severe congestion and a bit of an allergy cough and am just being cautious) and peach yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a spring cleaning bug and did a serious deep clean of the stove which is only a few years old. They just don’t make them like they used to 🙁 There are several parts I would like to be able to take apart for cleaning, but just wasn’t in the design. Twice a year I also use mineral oil as a soak for my wooden kitchen utensils and was able to get that done over the weekend. They look so pretty now.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I went last Friday and will conserve gas until I have to go to town for my painting class on Thursday night. Hubby and I are having a date night Friday and taking a Ricotta cheese making class at a local winery on Friday. It comes with a wine tasting, salad and lasagna.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I hate this category! I’m still trying to get the new dishwasher serviced for the rinse aid that isn’t working, getting the roofers to finish the repair work on the new shingles from last year and a few other tedious time consuming calls.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX St. Vincent with Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy, Wind River
  • PRIME First Target
  • RED BOX The King’s Man, American Underdog
  • DISNEY+ Hawkeye
  • CABLE Cooking shows: Tournament of Champions, Spring Easter Baking, Masterchef Jr., Beet Bobby Flay and Grocery Games Crime Dramas: Chicago series (Med, Fire & P.D.), NCIS (Original, L.A. & Hawaii), Bull, Law & Order (Remake and SVU), Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and FBI’s (original, Most Wanted & International) Comedies: Young Sheldon & Ghosts and we’re trying the new How We Roll Hallmark/Movies: Just One Kiss, Always Amore and When Calls the Heart Documentaries: Mysteries of the Abandoned

Jana Deleon’s Flame & Fortune, book #22 of the Miss Fortune series – just a fun read. Hubby even enjoys the audibles when we travel.

Tomato plant starters and herbs are loving a little bit of sunshine in addition to the Aerogarden.
My favorite old country barn is looking a little more lifelike as spring settles in.
JOHNNY JUMP UPS are making things look a bit brighter for spring.
I cleaned and spruced up the delivery driver snacks and drinks. 😀
Apparently there was a recent local (on the coast) theft of a million dollars of “MOVIE MONEY”. Local businesses are having to be extra diligent because they look and feel so real!

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CREOLE CHICKEN & RICE
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH & POTATO BALLS
CHICKEN RAMEN IN SHOYU BROTH
SWEET & SOUR BRISKET & PEROGIES
DATE NIGHT RICOTTA CHEESE MAKING CLASS – LASAGNA & SALAD with WINE TASTING
CALABRIAN CHILE & CHICKEN PASTA
HOT HONEY GLAZED PORK CHOPS
DESSERT
CINNAMON ROLLS

  • CREOLE CHICKEN & RICE
  • GRASSHOPPER CHEESECAKE BARS
  • GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD with LIME VINAIGRETTE

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 13 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

I hope you all had a great week and are ready to start this first true week of spring after recovering from the spring forward time change. I ended up in Urgent Care last Monday and have been down the majority of the week. I’ve yet to completely recover from Strep throat and looks like I may end up on a second round of antibiotics and steroids due to my compromised immunity, but compared to this time last week. I’m so much better! I’m jumping right in here with the categories.

Mornings have been overcast and really foggy (typical for this time of year), but the sunsets have been really gorgeous.

The rain we were supposed to get this week stalled out somewhere and looks like we’ll be stalled in the holding pattern of cloudy, foggy and the occasional afternoon sunshine in the mid 50’s. Low’s are still in the mid to high 30’s. So comfy Levis it is with a layered tank and flannel it is 😀

Theraflu and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I didn’t do a thing last week to speak of and don’t feel much like it this week either, but will force myself to get a few things done, at least the laundry, bathroom and kitchen.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll head to town on Wednesday to do grocery shopping and have a pedicure on Friday. Hubby has a couple of appointments on Friday also.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve been sticking to the menu pretty well. 😀 I’m also planned a couple weeks out.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Did you hear about the Morgan’s? with Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant
  • REDBOX American Underdog & The King’s Man
  • PRIME First Target
  • PEACOCOK Marry Me with Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson & Cheers Reruns
  • CABLE I got caught up on the DVR while I was down last week.

I finished my book, but just haven’t felt well enough to start a new one so have only leafed through a few cooking magazines.

It’s that time of year when you turn the sprinklers back on to get things adjusted, start watering flowers and ready to go for the garden. Lo and behold once again the same old leaks, front AND back yards both are making an appearance! Hubby and the gardener are working to fix the leaks once and for all! Looks like the front yard is fixed, but they still need a couple parts to finish. The backyard is only temporarily fixed, but at least it’s not creating a pool right now, only a tiny puddle. Hubby is going to go see about parts later today.

The stray kitties that adopted us are trying to stay incognito. Best I can tell they are from the litter of 5 or 6 that the people up the street had last year. Unfortunately, they are not responsible people and the cats have been left to roam the neighborhood fending for themselves. That said, they are GREAT mousers! I couldn’t get a picture, but saw Sonny chasing one on the patio last week and he caught it! I’m so glad he doesn’t leave them on the door mat!

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHICKEN AMAZU & PEROGIES
CHICKEN NEW ORLEANS & CAULIFLOWER RICE
BARBACOA BURRITO BOWLS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
SHRIMP SALAD with LIME DRESSING
PAN SEARED CHICKEN with SHERRY PAN SAUCE & POTATO BALLS
CREOLE CHICKEN & RICE
DESSERT
GRASSHOPPER CHEESECAKE SQUARES

  • ONION SALISBURY STEAK
  • FIG NEWTON CRISP
  • CHEESY MANGO SHEET PAN CHICKEN
  • LEMON GARLIC PEPPER CHICKEN
  • MEATBALL POTATO GRATIN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 12 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

I hope you are all doing better than I am this morning. The weather has been so unpredictable and I know that’s why I now have a sore throat and ear ache 🙁 It started Saturday afternoon as a sinus headache, but by the time I woke up Sunday it was full blown misery. I immediately started on Theraflu and Emergen-C along with a hot shower and felt better for awhile. I stayed in yesterday and will again today, but I think I caught it in time.

Saturday night’s low was 29° and tomorrow’s high is supposed to be 75° for a single day before it drops back into the 40’s for the rest of the week… no wonder I’m sick!

So today is a yoga pants day! 😀 And I’m not complaining about that.

Hot water and peach yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite not feeling well, I was able to get the laundry done and will do a deep clean on the kitchen and vacuum in a few days when I feel more energetic.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Fortunately I don’t need much until later in the week so won’t worry about any of this until I feel better. Honestly, I’m back to the point of trying to stay completely home. They have lifted the mask mandates here and I’ve heard they’re not even counting COVID cases because they don’t think it matters so I’m afraid that there might be an issue in the next couple weeks and am laying low to avoid it with being immunocompromised 🙁
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have a list to accomplish, but will wait until my throat and voice are better.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m good through the end of the month, but am sorting through for some spring like recipes in April.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX This has been our channel of choice this past week as we are not basketball fans and March Madness has taken over. We watched the sweetest movie, Rescued by Ruby and the Adam Project with Ryan Reynolds – he’s so funny in a sarcastic way 😀 We also watched Against the Ice which was quite good and then we finished with The Good Cop starring Tony Danza, but are sorry it only made one season 🙁
  • CABLE Spring Baking Championships, Tournament of Champions, Junior Masterchef – I absolutely adore the kids! I have a couple Hallmark movies to finish catching up on and FIXER UPPER episodes

I’m reading Return to Sender by Jennifer Peel

Saturday before I started feeling poorly there was a small break in the rain that we thought was going to last longer so we took a drive, but the rain that had ended and turned to pure sunshine returned with a vengeance. I did get a few good shots though. We even found a few things we’d never seen before.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHICKEN AMASU
HAM and BROCCOLI BAKE
CHICKEN NEW ORLEANS
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
SHEET PAN CHEESY CHICKEN
PIMIENTO CHEESEBURGERS
BLACKENED ORANGE ROUGHY & BACON GREEN BEANS
DESSERT
GRASSHOPPER CHEESECAKE SQUARES

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY WITH MENU & RECIPE LINKS week 11 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

Did you remember to change your clocks? Changing the clocks (as much of a pain as it is) always makes me feel like spring has sprung. At least we’re an hour closer 😀 That said, I sure wish they’d stop. I don’t even care which time they pick – standard or daylight savings – just pick one and stay with it!!!!!

We had a BIG storm blow in on Saturday with wind so bad it literally pulled my yard stakes out of the barrels, had the wind chimes tangling and being more noisy than I have ever heard and the flag was blowing straight up! It’s supposed to be raining most of this week, but also be a tad bit warmer so that’s okay too. Day times should be in the high 40’s to low 50’s and night times are supposed to be in the high 30’s.

My prayers and thoughts are with Ukraine as I pray for a peaceful ending to this war. I also applaud all those that are able to help in any way they can.

Hot water and cherry yogurt this morning

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m in spring cleaning mode, but the weather just won’t cooperate! For now I’ll settle for getting the bedding and laundry done.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS These will wait until I head to town later in the week. Fortunately, I don’t need much. 😀
  • PROJECTS We’ve done several remodel rehab renovations and the one thing I can say is they are ALWAYS entities in and of their own! There are no two alike and they are ALL fraught with their own issues. But plumbing is by far always the worst part of each one. I wish this was because of a remodel. Fortunately, even as bad as this mess was we have a water alarm under the kitchen sink that went off. Otherwise it would have been 100% worse waking up to it this morning. The part that ALWAYS ticks me off is that the part that fails is usually an inexpensive part in the middle of a line. In this case it was the connector in the middle of the faucet sprayer hose. It had been fixed once before, but has always been the weak link in this model particularly according to the plumbing expert at Home Depot. 🙁
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m up to date through March and am starting to look to more spring like recipes for April. The Eagles asked me to make a fruity dessert for their end of the month brunch and I’ve been working up a new recipe for that. Peach Pineapple Pear Bread Pudding 😀 or maybe a Blueberry Cream Cheese – we’ll just have to see 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We’re watching old Cheers reruns at night before sleep
  • PRIME 🙁 We finished Mrs. Maisel on Friday night. Even with only getting 2 episodes a week, the month went by quickly and now sadly we have to wait until December for the next season.
  • CABLE We’ve been watching old movies from the 50’s. I love seeing things from before I was born. This weekend we saw Rio Grande with John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson

I just started RETURN TO SENDER by Jennifer Peel, a new to me author. While I just began it I thinking she is going to be a good change of pace for me.

I have to add this funny, because it’s so so true! I’m getting a 4th booming on my Christmas Cacti too 😀

The spring flowers are trying to make an appearance, but winter keeps rearing its ugly head too. I can’t wait for some consistent warmth and be able to plant some seeds and ground cover in the planter areas.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
LEMON HERB BAKED SALMON
ZESTY ANGEL CHICKEN
SALISBURY STEAK, SCALLOPED POTATOES & GREEN BEANS
 MEATBALL  POTATO GRATIN
PASTEL AZTECA with SALSA VERDE
PORK CHOPS with TOMATOES
CHICKEN RAMEN IN SHOYU BROTH
DESSERT
GRANNY’S APPLE CRISP & PEACH BREAD PUDDING TEST RUN

  • BLONDE BEEF STEW
  • PORCUPINE MEATBALLS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER with MENU PLAN & RECIPE LINKS WEEK 10 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

Good morning. I hope you all had a great week and an even better weekend. For some reason this week flew by for me and I don’t feel like I got enough accomplished. I’m still struggling with adjusting my diet on a daily basis 🙁 and that seems to occupy way too much time, especially coupled with the seesaw of unequal and opposite reactions that accompany this new thing called daily life.

Between the pandemic, world events and life in general most days I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed. Unfortunately, I also know I’m not the only one and we’re all in this together, so I pray that they find a cure for this danged virus and some world peace thrown in for good measure would go a long way to curing ALL of OUR ails.

I am so saddened by what is happening in Ukraine. It is all so senseless and selfish of Putin to invade and destroy Ukraine.  So many lives have been lost. Even more hopes and dreams have been shattered. I keep praying things will turn around and turn around soon!  Prayers for Ukraine and its people.

The picture above is from Facebook, but I also ordered some digital art from Ukranian artists on ETSY in an effort to help somehow. I actually love these and will be printing them for framing.

I know gas prices are going up everywhere because of the price of oil and the the Ukranian/Russian war, but for us here our state ALSO added a 38¢ state tax effective January 1st of this year. Gas has gone from $3.46 at Christmas time to $4.49 yesterday. I’ve always tried to combine my errands to the least amount of trips to town and the least amount of gas used, but this now holds even truer!

We have mostly cloudy days in the 40’s with wind to look forward to before the rain begins towards the end of the week. I keep thinking spring is right around the corner, but then winter rears its ugly head yet again. It’s also another week of below freezing at night so hubby put the faucet covers back on.

I have some spray painting to do in order to spruce up some old hanging planters and patio furniture  that have peeling paint, but the weather is just not cooperating! I just need one, just one still and SUPER SUNNY afternoon above 50° to pull it off 🙁

I wish this could change a little bit, but yet the hot water and yogurt is tried and true 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I need to change and wash bedding in hopes of switching to “spring” types, but the weather is not holding out hopes for that as we have several nights this week below freezing still.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has a couple appointments this week that I will tag along on to also run my errands. At the price of gas right now it just doesn’t make sense to make multiple separate trips.
  • PROJECTS I have a couple flannel shirts that are too large for me, but I love the colors of so am going to turn them into aprons based on this picture I found on pinterest.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m making the phone calls necessary to quit all recipe & menu services because they are just not enjoyed anymore as the recipes have become repetitive and the ingredients less reliable which may be a regional thing. I just used to enjoy them more 🙁 So it’s back to my trusty tote full of recipes 🙂

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Sweet Magnolias, Virgin River
  • PRIME Mrs. Maisel
  • CABLE FLYING TIGERS with JOHN WAYNE, NASCAR, Walking Dead, Cooking shows ~ Tournament of Champions, Spring Baking, Alex VS America I’m excited to watch the new show next week where they cook along with Julia Child

Someone Like You: A Wild Widows Novel ~ Wild Widows Series Book 1 by Marie Force. This is a companion series to her First Family series (3 books to date) which is a companion series to her Fatal series (16 books to date) – I obviously like this author. I’ve been reading her for years and truly love her series format.

Carrie asked me a week or so ago about how I sketch before I paint. Here are a couple of sketches I did recently, but have yet paint. The one on the left is going to be a cute little bird on a fence post and the one on the right is going to be a lighthouse on a sandy shore. I just use a heavy gauge pencil to canvas. Paint will cover it as I go.

with the links to last week’s posted recipes, featured party links for the week and upcoming recipes to be posted soon.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
CHICKEN AMASU & SALAD
PORK LOIN with APPLE CREAM SAUCE with GLAZED CARROTS
BLONDE BEEF STEW
BLACKENED ORANGE ROUGHY & GREEN BEANS
SALISBURY STEAK, SCALLOPED POTATOES, GREEN BEANS & APPLE CRISP
CHICKEN PAPRIKA with MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY
PORCUPINE MEATBALLS & MASHED POTATOES with PAN BROWN GRAVY
DESSERT
BOLOS DE COCO (PORTUGUESE COCONUT CAKES)

  • SAMOA CHEESECAKE
  • CHICKEN with TARRAGON SAUCE
  • CALABRIAN CHILE TOMATO SAUCE