HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

DOUBLE WOW flew by and here we are back on another Monday. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and is bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for the first week of one of my favorite months.

We’re still here trying to finish this rehab!  You know the drill 2 steps forward only to take 10 backwards.  I did finally hear from the contractor and hopefully the last two ig things will be done by mid month and then we can order the carpet.  Looks like we really will be done by the 1 year mark.

I’m still working towards my new web page and hope to have it up and running soon with everything all combined.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER
The sun is shining and the temperatures as well as the humidity have ebbed a bit making life so much more enjoyable.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Oatmeal and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE I SEE & MY
WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS
I started cleaning over the weekend and some deep organizing as I try to combine two rooms together giving Carlie a completely empty room to move in to. I’ll try to finish the cleaning and de-cluttering today.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
We are trying all the new shows and will narrow them down soon – thank goodness for DVRs!

  • BIG BANG THEORY
  • NCIS
  • BLUE BLOODS
  • THIS IS US
  • BULL
  • SCORPION
  • THE GOOD PLACE
  • THE PITCH
  • LONGMIRE
  • Z-NATION
  • DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
  • MADAME SECRETARY
  • ONCE UPON A TIME 
  • CHESAPEAKE SHORES
  • ETC……. I’m sure I forgot a few…

With everything else going on I’m in between books right now.
MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in the CLOUDS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
C.O.R.N.
??
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
C.O.R.N.
DINNER
HOT WINGS
something in my new crock pot
C.O.R.N.
BUFFALO KING RANCH CHICKEN


SLOPPY JOES
CHILI & CORNBREAD
SOMETHING ON THE GRILL
DESSERT







FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Hubby has been working like a dog on the garage. We are at the 11 month mark and it has been a long haul, but hubby finally reached his happy place.  Just to refresh your memory here are a couple of the before pictures of what we “inherited” with the garage followed by pictures from yesterday.

 INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I hope everyone had a great week and weekend. I didn’t quite get around to visit everyone, but I will do better this week. I have to be honest, I’m tired! I’m a big believer in staying positive and “showing up” every day to live life, but like I said, I’m tired. 
 
Part of it is day 335 on this house.  We’re still working towards completing it by the one year mark for several reasons: 

  • 1) we’re just tired of living in a construction zone 
  • 2) the one year mark is only 3 weeks before Thanksgiving and we’re planning on having a normal holiday season this year – that includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas AND New Years.
  • 3) my mom is coming to visit just before Christmas
  • 4) Our son and his family are coming just after Christmas and bringing our granddaughter to stay while she begins college here locally. 

The other part of it is medicinal in a round robin kind of way.  Finishing this house would help with a couple of my conditions that are aggravated by heavy manual labor and stress. The last part is trying a new medicine and the side effects that go along with it. I committed to a 3 month round of it and am told it will get better if I just hang in there.

Many of you know I’ve been involved in several different blogs while I was “finding” myself.  It has all become too much though.  With my brother’s help (he’s my server) I am combining and collapsing all my irons in the fire into one new site that will be ALL encompassing no matter where my life takes me from here on out. I will be staying with my original “roots” from 3 Sides of Crazy. I bought my new domain and have made a couple selections for my new header and am now waiting on the behind the scenes completion so I can get busy combining and importing.  I’ll keep you posted on when I make the BIG move.  I’m really excited at de-cluttering my virtual life as well as my real life.
WHICH ONE DO YOU GUYS LIKE? 
Or do you think I need something entirely different?

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
The sun is shining, FOR NOW, but we’ll see.  We are supposed to be a bit cooler this week with off and on thunderstorms. It is still not where I’d like for fall, but at least it is tolerable enough to get going on the backyard soon.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Cinnamon Maple Oatmeal and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE I SEE & MY
WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • I started cleaning on Saturday and got distracted so I’ll finish the cleaning and de-cluttering today. 
  • I’m also getting more serious about donating as I’m beginning the “Make room for Carlie” changes.  We’re so excited to have her coming to live with us until her parents move this way. I keep wondering where ALL this stuff came from, but then I remember, sigh and get busy again.
  • Finish the inventory and call the woman from Texas Children’s Hospital AGAIN.  I’m donating my Barbie and Hallmark ornament collection to them for the kids and am trying to coordinate a drop off.
  • List a few things on eBay.
  • Try and finish the Painted Churches tour post once and for all – I ended up with way too many pictures to edit.
  • Start the drywall work in the living room.  Alas, the great contractor who was going to work us in before October is not returning calls or texts so I guess I’m just going to have to do it myself.  Hubby is busy working on putting up the interior walls in the garage.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
We are trying all the new shows and will narrow them down soon – thank goodness for DVRs!

  • BIG BANG THEORY
  • NCIS
  • BLUE BLOODS
  • THIS IS US
  • BULL
  • SCORPION
  • THE GOOD PLACE
  • THE PITCH
  • LONGMIRE
  • Z-NATION
  • DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
  • MADAME SECRETARY
  • ONCE UPON A TIME 
  • CHESAPEAKE SHORES
  • ETC……. I’m sure I forgot a few…

With everything else going on I’m in between books right now.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in HOLES
BACON & PANCAKES
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
C.O.R.N.
??
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
C.O.R.N.
DINNER
HAM STEAK with MAC & CHEESE
C.O.R.N.


BLACK BEAN CHILI & CORNBREAD
SOMETHING ON THE GRILL
DESSERT







FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

It’s been a very long week and an even longer weekend and I’m just not feeling up to par. We worked outside several days on the backyard area and it is super slow going.  Digging in clay like mud/dirt and rock is horrible, but worse in the 90+ degree heat and humidity we are still having.  At least things are dry right now near the garage edge so we will be getting the garage sealed inside and out as well as possible and get things fairly level before they deliver the pallet of 100 bags of sand and pavers for the patio area.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
The sun is shining and there are a few fluffy clouds, but it is already stifling with high humidity.  We are supposed to hit 95 degrees today so I’m enjoying the AC inside before I tackle outside again.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
French Toast and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE, WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS
I see tons of things I need to do, but things that will take a backseat to getting the bathroom floor and entryway grouting and a patio area done.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
Looking forward to the premiers this week. Oh and we found a cool new show (to us), American Pickers, on the history channel that we’ve been enjoying A LOT!

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
TOASTED FRENCH TOAST
SAUSAGE AND CHEESE FRITTATA
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
OUT
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
LOBSTER CAKES
ROAST CHICKEN with MASHED POTATOES and GRAVY
OUT
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
SLOPPY JOES
CHICKEN POSOZLE
ORANGE CHICKEN & CHOW MEIN
DESSERT

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
My brother and SIL got me 2 new cookbooks for my  birthday and I’ll reading those this week to fill this list.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Honestly I haven’t even downloaded the pictures yet so next week I’ll post double.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

WOW Last week really got away from me and here we are back on another Monday. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and is bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for another week – one week closer to FALL!  I can’t wait.

We’re still here trying to finish this rehab!  You know the drill 2 steps forward only to take 10 backwards.  We really were hoping to be done by now, but it looks like another couple months.  We did hire a contractor for the drywall work, but we’re waiting for him to work us in between other jobs already scheduled.  And until he’s done we can’t finish painting and until the paiting is done we can’t begin the carpeting… you see the way it’s going.

It’s been WAY too warm and humid to work outside, but we did have the opportunity this past week to have a tree company working in the area do a side job for us.  For a very very reasonably expensive price they removed the HUGE, but suffering Magnolia tree from the back yard.  Now the problem is that they don’t do stumps, but there is supposed to be a stump crew out next week and hopefully we can slip them some cash to do ours while they are doing the big one between us and the neighbor.

Our neighbor down the way had a battery emergency this past weekend after her son cleaned the garage while listening to her car radio and ran the battery down.  I was waiting with her for AAA to come so we were chatting and learned so many things about my cousin and her cry for help.  It breaks my heart to hear a neighbor tell me how she didn’t understand why her brother or parents hadn’t done something to help her because it was so obvious that she was drinking and possibly doing drugs. She often sounded like she’d been drinking when we chatted, but it was usually later in the evening and on the phone you can’t see anything. I really wish we hadn’t been 2000 miles away, maybe I would been able to do something…

Just a reminder that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.   Know the warning signs. More detail here.

 

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
The sun is shining, FOR NOW, but we’ll see.  We are supposed to be a bit cooler this week with off and on thunderstorms.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
A buttermilk waffle and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE I SEE & MY
WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS
I started cleaning on Saturday and got distracted so I’ll finish the cleaning and decluttering today.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
Dancing with the stars begins tonight as well as Monday night football, but other than that we have cleaned up the DVR and are waiting for new shows.

I’m in between books right now also.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK


MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in the CLOUDS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
C.O.R.N.
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
C.O.R.N.
DINNER
HOT WINGS
PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS
C.O.R.N.
OUT FOR MY BIRTHDAY


SLOPPY JOES
CHILI & CORNBREAD
SOMETHING ON THE GRILL
DESSERT







INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I’m going with a shortened version today since it’s a holiday.  I hope you are all having a relaxing labor day weekend with your friends and family.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
A little gray and VERY humid with the chance of thunderstorms all day.  I just hope it gves us the grill time with no issues for dinner.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Sausage and Gruyere Fritatta.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m very happy with what I was able get done on the deep clean last Saturday and there is just a few things to be finished and picked up.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • eBay pictures and listings
  • Caulking and trim painting
  • some sorting and organizing

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

We signed up for NETFLIX this weekend and am going to binge watch a few shows we missed during the past year.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Nothing much this week, but hoping to get started on Christmas projects in the next couple weeks.  I have been sorting through some recipes and ideas for the homemade portions.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in the CLOUDS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
GRILLED STEAKS, MAC & CHEESE, and BRUSSELS SPROUTS
C.O.R.N.
SWEET CORN SOUP and BISCUITS
GLAZED STUFFED PORK CHOPS
SLOPPY JOES
CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
ORANGE CHICKEN & CHOW MEIN
DESSERT
DUMP CAKE

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER AND MENU PLAN MONDAY

I can’t believe this is last week of August, but it really doesn’t make me sad.  I’m not sure about the rest of you but I am SOOOOOOO ready for fall! And while the actual cooler weather is still several weeks off, just the word September makes me start feeling closer to it.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had a couple BIG, but short storms over the weekend, but all in all it was cooler and pretty nice.  Hurricane season this close to the coast can be unpredictable and ever changing so you just roll with the changes.  It’s clear right nowas the sun begins to rise, but there are some seriously gray and threatening clouds around the perimeter so we’ll see as the day goes on.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Apple Cinnamon oatmeal and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I see a little tidying up to do and a load of laundry, but all in all, not too bad.  I finished a painting project on Saturday and then went into deep cleaning mode.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • I have lots of paperwork to do this week.
  • Get some packages wrapped and shipped.
  • Photos for ebay sales.
  • Make appointments for getting the A/C fixed on the car and have it detailed.
  • Make appointment for last big drywall project.
  • Finish editing the photos for my post about the Painted Churches, Fredricksburg and the Pacific War Museum.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CINNAMON GRANOLA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
??
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
FRIED FISH with SWEET & SPICY AVOCADO SAUCE
PEANUT BUTTER BURGERS
SWEET CORN SOUP
SHALLOT LIME CHICKEN with PEACH & STRAWBERRY SALAD
SLOPPY JOES
PIZZA
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT
COFFEE CINNAMON PEAR FUDGE CAKE

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and links FROM LAST WEEK

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
While we were away last week we went to lunch with my oldest, er maybe I should say longest friends.  We’ve known each other since we were 2 and 3 years old, LOL Lisa wasn’t even born yet.  Leslie and Lisa took us to a favorite restaurant of theirs, Jack Allen Kitchen, but it was new to us.  ALL 4 of us cleaned our plates.  The food was AMAZING!  I even bought the cookbook the next day.  I’ve successfully made an appetizer, Pimiento Cheese so far.  When I was a kid Pimiento cheese in a jar was a favorite with crackers on Thanksgiving, but it grossed me out.  I now know that was NOT real food LOL!  Anyway I have read the cookbook from cover to cover and made labels for the recipes to be tried soon:

  • Fried Fish with Sweet & Spicy Avocado Sauce
  • Crunchy Fried Shrimp with Blackberry Sauce
  • Sweet Corn Soup
  • Pickled Cucumbers
  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Sweet Dried Tomato Basil Vinaigrette
  • Cucumber Relish
  • Red Wine Vinaigrette
  • Taco con Todo
  • Turnips & Pot Roast
  • Enchilada Tejana
  • Chocolate Ice Box Cake
  • Blackberry Cobbler
  • Red Velvet Cake with Strawberries
  • Manor Punch
  • Skirt Steak
  • Artichoke Gratin
  • Mustard Caper Dressing (for hubby only)
  • Carrot Soup
  • Cilantro Pesto
  • Pumpkin Bread
  • Pumpkin Goat Cheese Tart
  • Mama’s Chicken
  • Pumpkin Spice Butter
  • Pear Ricotta and Pecan Tart
  • JAK’s Slaw
  • Pickled Beets
  • Gingerbread Cookies
  • Broccoli Casserole
  • Potato Casserole
  • Carmelized Onion Sauce
  • Meatloaf
  • Balsamic Syrup

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Last week I finally started the sealing of the brick on the atrium wall. Once it was done we realized that we weren’t going to be able to save the natural look because of all the repair spots so we would have to paint it.  Let me tell you what a pain that was.  The brick just soaked up the paint.  If only we’d known before we could have had the painters spray it way back when.  BUT, we LOVE the finished look even though it took me 2 days to get into ALL the crevices.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I hope you all had great weeks and weekends. We took our getaway trip and had a great time albeit too short.  I took tons of pictures and will do a write up later this week. The air conditioning went out on the car on the way home, but at least had the decency to wait until we were home and I didn’t actually discover it until Saturday morning. So that is on the top of the list to get handled.  Running short on time this week so will make this short and sweet.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It’s gray and ugly, but at least 15 degrees cooler than last week when it looked the same.  We are experiencing a few thunderstorms in and around the area so am not sure what it will be like in an hour and the humidity is still REALLY high because of it.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
A scrambled egg and toast with coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m happy with how things are moving along. I found an overstuffed display chair for the living room that I need to find an ottoman for, but all in all I’m getting more excited about being done.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • I spent last Saturday doing LOTS of laundry and cleaning, but still need to vacuum the living room and work on the donation inventory for the pile to be boxed up.  Today begins day 121 of the 30 day project, but it is still going strong so I’m going to stick with it for another 30 days at least.  We are now up over 6000 items and loving it.
  • Grocery shopping
  • Some mailing and shipping
  • Studio sorting and organizing
  • Get an estimate to fix the air conditioning on the car
  • Get an estimate on the drywall repair in the living room
  • Some ebay listings

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
We’re finishing up the recordings from last week from when we were away. I really want to finish cleaning out the DVR before the fall season begins.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CINNAMON GRANOLA FRENCH TOAST
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
GRAZING
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend. I have been so busy trying to get ALL the little projects done before we leave on our anniversary trip that the ENTIRE week got away from me before I had a chance to visit with everyone.  I will be better this week!

We are using a “dog sitter” for the first time instead of kenneling the kids.  She came highly recommended by many of the neighbors, but I still have a bit of trepidation in using her. One of the neighbors (who is a perfectly nice woman) BUT is also a “GLADYS KRAVITZ” (you know the extremely nosy, frequently peeking through her curtains type) and a good friend of the dog sitter. I really don’t want her in our home when we are not here and have expressed that in a diplomatic way to the sitter… Our own Gladys Kravitz has gone so far as to tell the sitter to tell us how a few things need to happen.  I’m pissed off and annoyed, but also NEED to get away for a few days so will just pray that the sitter respects our wishes and keeps her friend out by going there if they want to socialize.  I’m also not sure how the animals will react to too many strangers in the house when we’re not here.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
We had some wonderfully vibrant and loud thunder and lightning storms with quite a bit of rain over the weekend and are expecting more today and through the week, but for now it is just gray and ugly though a bit cooler so am thankful for that.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Homemade waffles and Coffee – I made waffles yesterday and froze the extras for the toaster on weekday mornings.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m fairly pleased with all that we got done last week and that I was able to keep it picked up and cleaned as we went.  I do have another pile that will load the back of the SUV for donation later this morning.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • Monday & Tuesday
  • Wednesday & Thursday 

  • Friday – Lazy day and Lunch with my oldest and dearest friend on our way home at Jack Allen’s Kitchen
  • SaturdayNascar
  • SundayNFL

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
I tried the planned new recipes last week from Count Me In The Houston Fire Department’s Hottest chefs share their sizzling secrets.  I haven’t had a chance to get the recipes up yet, but was quite happy with most of what I tried!  I will get them up next week.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
OUT
OUT
OUT
BACON & WAFFLES
QUICHE
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
OUT
OUT
OUT
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N
C.O.R.N
OUT.
OUT
OUT
MEATLOAF
PORK CHOPS
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • ANNIVERSARY trip this week.  First time we will get away for a LONG time! We are really looking forward to it.
  • Daily completion of projects.  It’s the little finishing work projects that seem to take the longest!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It is sunny but already in the 80’s at this early hour and supposed to top out in the mid 90’s with 75% humidity so in otherwise, MISERABLE by noon time.  Fortunately I have been able to make all our appointments and do all the running around first thing in the mornings so I’m in the rest of the day after.  My health just can’t take it and is eagerly awaiting FALL and winter!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Maple cinnamon oatmeal and grapes with at least 2 cups of coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I need to do some serious straightening up.  Our room and bath are perfect though as I took the time to deep clean them after we were done painting.

A few years back we were caring for my aunt I was working A LOT caring for my uncle, his home, my aunt and her care facility as well as volunteering for christian re-sale store! At some point hubby instituted a “Sunday Rule”.  Sunday was my day to do ONLY what I wanted to do and my uncle was on his own for meals. For the past 9 months we kind of ignored that rule, but yesterday I re-instated it!  I spent the day watching the Olympics, Nascar and football was the plan, but they cancelled the football game and we ended up watching more Olympics all the while sorting through the bookcases and now I have stacks of books everywhere to be listed on the donation list and packed up for transportation.

Long story short, I need to straighten up around here!

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • Vet follow up for dog. 
  • Grocery shopping.
  • Finish caulking and touch up paint from last week’s front door installation.
  • Last coat of paint for spare bathroom.
  • Work on kitchen ceiling repair.

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
I haven’t started anything new – just too tired at the end of the day right now.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
While I was going through the bookshelves I found a copy of Count Me In The Houston Fire Department’s Hottest chefs share their sizzling secrets.  While I was skimming through it I found several recipes that sounded interesting so am going to cook from this book this whole week.  I’ll post them soon if they are good.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
PANCAKES & BACON
QUICHE
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SALAD
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
SPICEY RICEY BACON SALAD
HOT DIRTY RICE & APPLE COLESLAW
C.O.R.N.
ITALIAN CHICKEN
TERIYAKI CHICKEN
HAWAIIAN CHICKEN
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
DESSERT
BANANA CARAMEL PIE

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • Our anniversary trip is coming up in a couple weeks and I’m really looking forward to that.
  • The master bathroom with all the  HORRIBLE angles and out of square corners is FINALLY done!  It had to be gutted and re-plumbed with ALL new fixtures, walls and floors. The shower itself is large and was salvageable, but with a ton of work. LOVE the wainscotting paneling, but HATED having to paint all those grooves! Here are the horrible before pictures from the bathroom.

Here are the working and after pictures and I am so happy with the outcome considering ALL the issues we had in this room.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
My poor old guy (going on 15) keeps rallying and even seems like a pup again some days.  The humidity here is so bad on his ears and he shakes his head a lot.  Large dogs are prone to hematomas in their ears.  He had one several years ago in the left ear when we were in the desert working on my mom’s house when he was attacked by a lose dog and it left home with a cauliflower ear (similar to a boxer’s ear that has been punched too much).  The good news is that the cauliflower ear reduces the chances of it happening again.

Last weekend he ended up shaking his head and bapping the ear against the sharp edge of the desk leg and we woke up Monday morning to a swelling ear.  I iced it every hour for a couple days, but in the end we were forced into the vet.  We tried a new vet (we REALLY didn’t like the first one we found here) and were so happy to meet Dr. Plummer.  What an absolutely fantastic animal doctor! SHE CAME IN AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED HER ATTENTION TO HIS NEEDS!  It was like she spoke dog.  Now, Gunner is NOT thrilled with her bandaging, but I am!  5 days later and the bandaging is a bit dirtier, but still in place! I’m taking him in later this morning for a check up.  Hopefully all the bandaging will go away!

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I’m up early preparing for the front door and master bedroom window installations today. YAY!!!! I’m so excited!  We had a very busy week and got quite a bit accomplished on this house.  We also had a Saturday that was super productive too and a super lazy Sunday, but I did get a lot of my library gone through deciding on hat to keep and what to donate. Kept waiting for the Nascar race to start, but it was eventually rained out and will run today.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It is sunny but already in the 80’s at this early hour and supposed to top out in the mid 90’s with 75% humidity so in otherwise, MISERABLE by noon time. Great day to be installing doors and windows!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Banana and oatmeal with coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
It’s a little messy, but I held off cleaning knowing they would be making a HUGE mess tomorrow installing the door and window.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • Monday – Installers will be here for the front door and master bedroom window.  I will be putting the next layer of texture on the ceiling drywall repair.  They wanted $300 to do this so I decided to do it myself. Hubby cut the new piece and I started working with it on the table so I wasn’t working upside down and giving myself a crick in my neck.  The we installed it and I started repairing the edges to feather the texture into the existing ceiling.  Once it gets another layer of texture and a couple coats of paint, you won’t be able to tell the difference.I’m using a sea sponge to create the texture areas.
  • Tuesday – Grocery shopping and Errands. 
  • Wednesday & Thursday – I am finally going to spend some serious time in the studio straightening up and filing patterns and papers…
  • Friday – Cleaning, laundry and vacuuming.
  • Saturday – PAINT! PAINT! PAINT!
  • Sunday – ??

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in the CLOUDS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS
MALIBU CHICKEN & SALAD
C.O.R.N.
GLAZED STUFFED PORK CHOPS
SOUP & SALAD NIGHT
12 HOUR SALAD
ORANGE CHICKEN & CHOW MEIN
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

YUMMY BBQ and SALAD

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Another Monday is upon us believe it or not. I’ve been so busy that some days I can’t even remember which day it is.  We are trying so hard to get the majority of ALL the little projects done on this nightmare of a house before we set out on our anniversary trip the middle of next month.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
I’d love to tell you that there was a cool breeze and pretty sky, but no such luck.  Unfortunately today is a carbon copy of the past few weeks in the high 90 degree heat and 70% humidity that hits me like a frying pan in the face”!! The air is so thick you can slice it. Plus it is supposed to rain the next several days which will only make it worse.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
Oatmeal and sliced orange.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
It is pretty straight except for the totes I’m still sorting and the pieces for the upcoming door installation next Monday.

We did get the water closet completed short of a piece of molding and the paint for the door and inside.

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • MONDAY – ERRANDS – Grocery and Home Depot/Lowes for parts
  • TUESDAY – finish painting kitchen and start caulking and sealing master bath to prep for final paint. 
  • WEDNESDAY – finish sealing spare bath for for final painting.
  • THURSDAY –  matinee movie and lunch
  • FRIDAY – MORE sorting
  • SATURDAY – laundry & cleaning
  • SUNDAY – ????

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR
I finished my last book and have yet to start anything new.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
I haven’t started anything new yet. Right now I’m concentrating on finishing the “little” projects on the house and finish the 30 day minimization project that is now on day 94 as I have extended it to a 120 day project.  As of yesterday we re at 5206 items.  I am about to start on actual closets and cupboards for a final go through.

KITCHEN WISHES
I am about to start the minimization on kitchen gadgets and will then reevaluate what goes into this category.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
OVERNIGHT QUICHE
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
SALISBURY STEAK
C.O.R.N.
CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
CHICKEN & CABBAGE BAKE
APRICOT CHICKEN
DESSERT OR SPECIAL
CELERY SEED DRESSING

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS
It took me years to learn this trick, but with long fine hair it is a VERY important trick that works like a charm.  Before you use your cream rinse be sure to remove the excess water from your hair and to really leave the conditioner on for 2 FULL minutes – don’t hurry.  Since I started doing this I have had 90% less split ends and my hair just seems to lay “right” increasing my good hair days a lot.

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
COOKING TIP 
I have been binge watching DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES lately and learned a tip about baking that I tried yesterday and it REALLY works!  On the episode that featured FOREIGN & DOMESTIC in Austin, Texas while preparing Gruyere & Black Pepper popovers the chef used a pre-warmed pan (put it in the oven while it is preheating and then spray it with non-stick spray before adding the batter).  As for the batter it should be warm.  The popover recipe the chef was making had no leavening agent and she was depending on the hot pan and warm batter to create a steam process to make the popovers actually rise and boy did the rise and pop over!  The other trick is to fill them to the top instead of 2/3.  Hers looked amazing and the diners were singing serious HIGH praise. I tried this with some biscuits and it worked quite well.

HOMEMAKING TIP
I use mineral oil for my butcher block and my wooden kitchen tools to keep them hydrated.  I also find it is an inexpensive and wonderful way to oil my hardwoods too.  This is my ALL time favorite dining room table.  It’s been in storage for the better part of 7 years so was considerable dry.  It soaked up ALL that oil and is looking pretty good now.  I’m so happy to have our table together again.

Hubby took apart my cousin’s old table and moved it to the garage until my uncle decides its fate.  The one we took apart matches that chair in the background with the gingham check seat but is not my style, color or another project I want to take on as it is in HORRIBLE shape and needs COMPLETELY refinished.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

We found a great door at Habitat for Humanity.  They get display items from the local Lowes which is wonderful for us as we got a very expensive door for peanuts, but it is purple.  And while I love the color purple, I don’t want a purple front door.  It is also metal, so right now I’m painting on a “GRIPPER” so it will take the paint well. We are going to do some shade of gray to match the bricks on the outside and the decor on the inside. I can’t wait to show you a finished picture with the stained glass portion that doesn’t show well in this position.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER AND MENU PLAN MONDAY

WOW! IT’S MONDAY AGAIN. WHERE DID THE WEEK GO? We actually got quite a bit done, but it’s never enough for me lately.  I am soooooo ready to be done with this place! It’s now been 9 LONG months of majorly long days and non-stop work!

We have decided to take a trip for our anniversary next month so have been researching and planning.  We found a cute little B&B and are now searching for cool and unusual things to do and places to eat. We are looking forward to not only a change of scenery with NO projects, but also a change in temperature.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
Remember last week and the week before when I said, “It looks so pretty with big fluffy clouds and sunny skies.  You would think it was spring.  Then I opened the door and the high 90 degree heat and 70% humidity hit me like a frying pan in the face”?  Well, DITTO again this week!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
A scrambled egg and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m pleased to see most things are orderly, but I spent ALL of Saturday and most of Sunday doing a deep clean!

WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS
We met with the contractor for the jobs (re-texture the kitchen ceiling, hang the new front door and jamb on the “OLD” house, master bedroom window installation and living room wall crack) we decided to have done because we are just plain getting tired and are waiting for their bids so are doing a bunch of small “finish” projects while we wait.  So for this week:

  • Finish building the actual water closet.  The door is installed, the plumbing has been reworked and the new gas line is in proper place.We just need to build the side wall for e enclosure, but ran out of parts.
  • MORE caulking on the molding.  It really sucks doing the whole house at once.  Seems like that the projects are NEVER done, especially when you need multiple coats to do in each room and need drying time between each coat.
  • Install new pantry floor.
We hired out the plumbing/water heater move and regretted it as we have had to rework a good deal of it.  This picture was a before/midway shot.
We laid the remaining floor and started installing the walls.
LOVE the new connector box and updated plumbing!  GREAT water pressure now that the galvanized piping is NO more.
This is one of the things we had to rework.  They ran the gas connector way TOO tight AND right through the middle of the broom closet to be. It just burns when you pay to have a job done by a professional and it gets done wrong.  Originally they had the emergency drain running right through the broom closet portion too.  Thank goodness I walked into the room BEFORE they refilled the water heater.  The estimator is a good guy, but the installers were NOT following his design or using common sense and logic! They also did NOT have ALL the correct parts with them!
We changed the gas line to the longer length for proper and safe installation so it hugs the wall and adjusted for the broom closet portion.
We got the walls installed, molding installed and hung the cabinet so we could get the washer and dryer hooked back up.  We still need to finish the actual water closet and wall.
The pantry was built 40 years ago and in my opinion was only supposed to house boxed and canned foods, not fresh so it was holding TOO much heat. I decided to perform surgery and get creative to solve that problem.  I cut a hole ALL the way through the door and repainted it adding 2 new layers of chalkboard paint.  Then I added a decorative shutter to the front and a decorative tin sheet to the back for venting.

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Haven’t been watching too much of anything specific.  We have actually been “catching” up on OLD reruns!

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
I am STILL hoping to start a few projects, but I have my doubts LOL. The time just seems to go too fast these days.  A lot will depend on whether we hire the contractor for the other projects.

KITCHEN WISHES
I’m still organizing, but think I’m finally feeling pretty good overall about the condition of the kitchen. I did recently purchase a Chef Tony bacon pan and am really glad I did.  I’m now calling it the baconator. Bacon always takes so long to cook and is so messy cooking in the grease and then draining on paper towels. This pan eliminates ALL of this while also giving you 20 minutes to prepare the rest of breakfast while it is in the oven.  I LOVE it!

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
I’m trying another entire week of experiments.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
OVERNIGHT BREAKFAST PIE
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
JOE BOOKER STEW
CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS
C.O.R.N.
SALISBURY STEAK with CAULIFLOWER CHEDDAR BISCUITS
GRILLED CHICKEN AND ONION KEBABS with SALAD
C.O.R.N.
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

ON MY MIND/PRAYER LIST
I’m so upset by what is going on in this country and the world.  I CANNOT even begin to understand what is going on in people’s minds that they can believe it is okay to take another life or create so much violence and upheaval in their own communities. ALL LIVES MATTER. As a woman of faith I know this will get worse before it gets better, but can’t help praying that people will change their ways instead.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY
Despite my frustration at things taking too long to get completed around here, I am still happy with ALL the little projects that are getting done lately. I worked ALL weekend on of potential ebay sales items and going through Christmas ornaments.  I have decided that most things just aren’t worth the time and effort so will be donating tons more items and probably extending the minimizing project yet another month. We are at over 4936 items in the last  84 days! AND still counting.

I’m also putting together some boxes of items for nieces and nephews of especially Christmas ornaments I think they will like.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Finally found a quilt to match my favorite pillows that my SIL Amy made last Christmas.
INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.