Category: HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY

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

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 😀

• BAKED GRILLED CHEESE
• BLACKENED ORANGE ROUGHY
• GRASSHOPPER CHEESECAKE BARS

• CARNE ASADA
• CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE
• BAKED PINEAPPLE SALMON
  

• SWEET & SOUR BRISKET
• CALABRIAN CHILE CHICKEN PASTA
  

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.

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

• BARBACOA BURRITO BOWLS
• PASTEL DEVILED EGGS
• GREEN CHILE CHICKEN SOUP
• KARAAGE CHICKEN AMAZU
• ONION SALISBURY STEAK

• ALL DAY MEATBALLS & WHISKEY SOUR JELLY SAUCE
• BAKED TOMATOES with PARMESAN BROCCOLI STUFFING
• ZESTY CREAMED CHICKEN
  

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

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

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!

• BACON GREEN BEANS
• PASTEL DEVILED EGGS
• LEMON HERB BAKED SALMON

• BAKED APRICOT PINEAPPLE GINGER SALMON
• UPSIDE DOWN APPLE PIE
• BEEF YAKISOBA

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

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.

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.

• PORCUPINE MEATBALLS
• ZESTY CREAMED CHICKEN
• PINEAPPLE PEACH BREAD PUDDING
• BAKED TOMATOES with BROCCOLI STUFFING

• TIE DYE EASTER EGGS
• SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS AND ORANGE VINAIGRETTE
• CORNED BEEF HASH
  

• ALL DAY MEATBALLS with CHERRY SAUCE or WHISKEY SOUR JELLY SAUCE

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

How was your weekend? Wherever you are I hope you haven’t had too much weather and have been able to get out and enjoy life a bit. We have had a few decent hours each day and have gotten a couple small projects done – things that don’t require you to finish immediately if the rain starts kind of things.

On Saturday before the rain began I was able to cut out the dead parts of some Mallow bushes and together we were able to level a couple of planter areas. They really need to be redone, but with leveling the blocks and turning the boards they’ll make it another season anyway. I did find this little ladybug – must be a good sign right?

Also, the mousers have been hanging around a lot – I think because they can stay warmer together. I don’t think they’re thrilled with the frozen bird bath though.

The rain is back and while the temperatures have warmed a few degrees during the day, nighttime hasn’t, so it is only a couple hours a day 🙁 AND it’s not supposed to last dropping back down for next week.

The weather has been so weird (again) and we’re still having “sugar ant” issues – you know the little black ones looking to get out of the cold or in search of water. AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING AGAINST THEM!

I have put out 2 of these in EVERY room and they all look like this! I’d actually feel better if they were after food, but they go nowhere near the kitchen. No amount of scrubbing or vacuuming is helping! They are invading from outside.

Hot water and peach yogurt

I haven’t decided what to read this week. I just finished a book and want to focus on cleaning up my scraps of paper notes instead this week.

So, driving by the pond the other day this is what I saw. It’s just a man walking his several hundred pound pig. The funny part was watching him trying to get it back into his minivan.

• ZEBRA CAKE
• HAMBURGER HASH
• TEX MEX CHICKEN POT PIES
• ORANGE LEMON ORANGE ROUGHY

• CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
• BULGOGI BBQ PORK
• APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS

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 had a very busy weekend and well I’m just beat today and coping with food and tummy issues still. I’m hoping to find some energy laying around.

Well, our rain never materialized and we have been having quite a bit of “stagnant” air. Day in and day out have been foggy, dewy mornings that burn off into 1-2 hours of semi-sun shine just before the sun begins to set. Highs in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s which is still good for Levis, comfy hoodies and UGG’s 😀

I finished up Return to Sapphire Bay – THE LAKESIDE INN by Leanna Morgan and started BUNDLE OF TROUBLE by Diana Orgain this week. Bundle of Trouble wasn’t on my original list for the year, but popped up as a free kindle read in my email so I thought I’d try a new to me author. I’ll then double back to grab book #2 for The Return Sapphire Bay.

My friend came for dinner the other night before our big paint day and brought me this beautiful teacup of flowers. Originally I wasn’t fond of this picture we painted for the fundraiser, but it has grown on me 😀

Everybody probably already knows this, but a single mini marshmallow in the bottom of your cone can keep it from dripping all over you 😀

• ELVIS COOKIES
• CHEESY GAME DAY DIPS
• MARINATED BEAN SALAD
  
• TUSCAN STYLE HERB CHICKEN
• MARINATED PORK CHOPS & FRIED POTATOES
• DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHEWY BROWNIES

• MARINATED BEAN SALAD
• STACKED SUIZA CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
• CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST

• INCREDIBLE MYSTERY FUDGE
• GERMAN APPLE PANCAKES
• APPLE PIE STREUSEL MUFFINS
• NO KNEAD (SALAMI) BREAD
• CITRUS VINAIGRETTE SALAD with GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

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

What an exciting playoff day yesterday was! The sacks, the interceptions, overtime – the games had it all!!! So sorry Jean 🙁 I really thought the Chiefs had it until the very end. When the coin toss for overtime came up in their favor I was sure it was all over. It has been so many years since the Bengals have even made it to the playoffs, let alone through them that I’m not totally disappointed. It was a good game.

The Rams game didn’t start out well, but boy was the second half an edge of the seat worth the wait! I’m not from California, but I grew up there. My dad was an “original’ Rams fan from when they were originally a Los Angeles team so I grew up with them being the home town team. Honestly I would have been okay with the 49ers winning, but am so glad to see the Rams be one of the first teams to go to the Super Bowl in their brand new home stadium.

Our weekend rain didn’t materialize until last night and while it poured A LOT, it was short lived leaving us with an even colder week ahead. Saturday was actually gorgeous – sunny and bright despite being cold. With the sun the temperature actually hit 40 and we were able to take a comfortable hike around the pond. That sun was short lived though and the low was 29° that night 🙁 This week will be in the low 40’s with very little sun making it a bone chilling cold again. Nights will be in the low 30’s. But, I am LOVING the continued turtlenecks, flannels, hoodies and UGG’s though.

I’m a positive, upbeat person 95% of the time who loves to interact with people and be involved in multiple projects, but I can seriously see how easy it would be to become an agoraphobic person.

I seriously question leaving the house EVERY time I do it these days. COVID variants and people’s actions or lack of are on my mind ALL the time these days. I never used to judge people and hate to admit I do now. I try to not even use public restrooms these days, but every now and then it is a necessity and when I see someone leave a restroom without washing their hands I cringe and just want to yell at them!!!!

Because of my immuno compromised status I am ALWAYS (and have been for a VERY long time) aware of my surroundings and the actions of those around me, but MORE than ever it makes life a challenge these days.

Hot water and cherry yogurt!

I’m finishing up THE LAKESIDE INN by Leanna Morgan and will start BUNDLE OF TROUBLE by Diana Orgain this week. Bundle of Trouble wasn’t on my original list for the year, but popped up as a free kindle read in my email so I thought I’d try a new to me author.

It’s been completely dry and super cold lately with heavy dense fog mornings that haven’t been clearing off until around lunchtime, but that has been creating some incredible sunsets. 😀 I caught this one just in time on Friday afternoon.

Then on Saturday when it actually warmed up a bit with the sun we walked around the pond and were rewarded with this cute beaver sunning himself on a downed log.

Recently they cut back A LOT of brush from around the pond and you can now see all the beaver activity as they begin building their summer home.

• APPLE PANCAKE
• KILLBORN SANDWICHES
• SWEET CANDIED CARROTS
• PHILLY CHEESESTEAK EGG ROLLS

• CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRY TRUFFLES
• CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES
• BEEF & BEAN ENCHILADAS – TAKE OUT STYLE
• NEW ENGLAND STYLE BAKED STUFFED CLAMS

• MARINATED BEAN SALAD
  
• TUSCAN STYLE HERB CHICKEN
  
• ELVIS COOKIES ala DUFF GOLDMAN
• MARINATED PORK CHOPS & FRIED POTATOES

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

First off, my sympathies  🙁 to all my Packer fan friends, Carrie in particular. I’ve never been a 49er fan, but that was the game of the year with a seriously unexpected outcome!

And having grown up in southern California before the RAMS went to St. Louis, I’ve always been a RAMS fan, well because my dad was – they were our home team. 😀 So, that was a good outcome (as far as I was concerned) and a really “historic” game with Tom Brady receiving his first ever un-sportsman like flag and penalty.

As for the Bengals and Titans I had no preference, but I do like the Bengals helmets – ha ha I know, such a girl thing to say! 😀

I’ve always been a Bills fan for some unknown reason, but am also a Chiefs fan so had no true preference there either except to see a good game, which we certainly did! It truly was the Josh Allen & Patrick Mahomes show. Congratulations Jean 😀

All 4 playoff games were quite good and I really enjoyed them all, but it’s time to get this week started.

Looks like we’re heading back into wet weather later this week, which is normal for us at this time of the year. The dry weather we’ve been having has been kinda nice after all the snow and rain, but much colder 24/7 with it being so clear, making the rain a welcome change.

This week will be in the high 40’s during the days and 30’s at night with the rain returning over next weekend. Either way I get to keep enjoying turtlenecks, flannels, UGG’s and snuggling in blankets and quilts.

Hot water & Apple Blueberry toddler squeeze

I’m finishing up THE LAKESIDE INN by Leanna Morgan and will start BUNDLE OF TROUBLE by Diana Orgain this week. Bundle of Trouble wasn’t on my original list for the year, but popped up as a free kindle read in my email so I thought I’d try a new to me author.

I’m getting a third blooming on all my Christmas cacti. 😀

• BAYOU BLEND CASSEROLE
• CHERRY CHEESECAKE BITES
• CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD
• BALSAMIC PINEAPPLE CHICKEN
• SUN DRIED TOMATO PESTO PASTA SALAD

• END OF WEEK CHICKEN
• TEX MEX BLT’S
• SEX ON A STICK
  

• CHIPOTLE SALISBURY STEAKS
  
• DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHEWY BROWNIES