Category: HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY

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 are SOOOOOO WET! This past weekend especially it seriously rained. It rained so much I swear I saw Noah float by on an ark. In all seriousness there is major ice, cold, flooding… businesses north of us closed early due to power outages… airport closed… and then Saturday night it hit us with a power outage that left us thinking about taking a trip. After SNOWMAGGEDON a few years ago we vowed we’d take a small trip if it happened again and as the temperature was dropping we sat in the dark contemplating just that for about 3 hours when it came back on. It was nice to snuggle in and just read, but it really threw off my timeline for things I was trying to accomplish for the new project.

I mean this is the Pacific North West and we’re used to rain and wet, but I’m seeing standing water with ducks paddling in it where there used to be a road. Our local pond “normally” has a path all the way around, but when I left the estate house (which looks down on the whole pond) last night I noticed that the back end is completely under water.

Today is supposed to be cloudy and then back to the rain tomorrow and Wednesday and for the rest of the week. I’ll be working on a new estate sale a good part of this week, but all the work is NOT indoors so it may get a bit dicey at times. This estate sale is more of a clean out than higher end things and antiques that we are used to, so may use today to start making outdoor trash piles…so grungy clothes it is today.

There are a few things on my mind that I’m working through, but it’s just day to day things. I’m feeling well other than a few aches and pains, but am still avoiding people like the plague as COVID works its way through our community once again. 🙁

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have 2 loads of laundry to do and am hoping to finish clearing the house of the Christmas totes with a break in the rain today. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have to do the shopping for one of the auxiliary women’s dinner on Friday so will do our errands at that time on Tuesday. Unfortunately it is supposed to be raining 🙁 PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I have several this I want to accomplish this week. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m a bit uninspired right now with all that’s going on, but just like Stella, I WILL get my groove back. 🙂

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

The DVR is pretty empty while we wait for the “new” season to finally begin. As always I catch the Kid’s Baking Championship and a few other cooking shows. We did watch a couple of good movies on Prime though. Champions with Woody Harrelson and Cheech Marin was really cute and we finally saw the Peanut Butter Falcon.

I’m working on finishing the Canary Girls, but got a bit sidetracked with the power outage. I do love historical novels – I always seem to learn something new. Do you know why they were called Canary girls? I’ll give you a clue – it has nothing to do with birds or singing.

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

	MONDAY 1/15	TUESDAY 1/16	WEDNESDAY 1/17	THURSDAY 1/18	FRIDAY 1/19	SATURDAY 1/20	SUNDAY 1/21
DINNER	BBQ BAKED CHICKEN & POTATO SALAD	BROWN CRACKER MEATLOAF with MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY	SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS	MISO BUTTER  ROASTED CHICKEN & CARROTS	BRIDGE CLUB CHICKEN & SALAD	CHILE LIME SALMON & ARTICHOKES	CHICKEN FRIED STEAKS with MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY
DESSERT			DANISH APPLE SLAB PIE

We went to an impromptu comedy show on Friday night to support a local winery family who has been in the valley for over 100 years, but is being forced out of business due to family infighting over a recent patriarch death 🙁 so sad. We then went to a favorite local haunt for karaoke and a couple of friends (sisters who were drinking pretty good) did a duet to Dirty Laundry 😀

• COCONUT MILK CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES
• CHICKEN PAPRIKISH
• GERMAN POTATO DUMPLINGS

• PAN SEARED CHICKEN IN LEMON WINE SAUCE
• CHEESY CHICKEN PANCAKES
• ORANGE CHILE CHICKEN
  

Good Morning friends. I hope this second week of 2024 finds you healthy and happy. We’re doing well, but there has been a major resurgence of COVID here in our little rural town and MANY people we know are down with it so as a precaution we have not strayed far from home this past week nor will we this week. I read that there is a new strain that is rearing it’s ugly head all over the country, so please be careful.

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

It is still really cold here (highs in the low 40’s and lows in the 20’s), breezy and REALLY wet here with snow the last 2 nights that didn’t stick here on the valley floor, but did on the local hills so we can see it all around us. It is predicted to be in FULL swing later this week as we are on winter storm watch now. The weatherman can’t make up his mind as to when the snow will actually hit though – it keeps changing hourly so I guess we’ll have to wait and see as the storm actually hits. Honestly I’d prefer the snow to the rain most days.

I did get a new really warm and cozy hoodie that I’ve just about been living in along with comfy Levi’s and UGGs.

I have a bit of my normal winter sinus issues due to the atmospheric pressures being all over the place with these storms, but doing well otherwise. I’m thinking about how to adjust all my schedules due to COVID closures and such and still meet commitments. The only real appointment I have this week is for a haircut tomorrow and to pick up a few groceries on the way home.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ve still been de-decorating from Christmas and packing things away. Will do a deep clean later this week since I’ll be home. GROCERIES & ERRANDS Haircut tomorrow and groceries. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Hoping to finish a few things up this week and start with a clean work area. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m supposed to cook at the Eagles several times in the near future, but right now I’m taking it a day at a time since things are so up in the air with closures.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

YAY! New shows for the season are slowly coming back. I’m enjoying the KID’S BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP and catching up on some old movies. We watched A League of Their Own last week and STRANGE WEATHER, a Holly Hunter movie which was pretty strange itself.

I finished Marie Force’s State of Bliss last weekend and finally started Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini. I also got caught up on all the stray magazines I had around, but there are a couple cookbooks to finish up.

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

	MONDAY 1/8	TUESDAY 1/9	WEDNESDAY 1/10	THURSDAY 1/11	FRIDAY 1/12	SATURDAY 1/13	SUNDAY 1/14
DINNER	CASHEW CHICKEN and CHEESY LEEK GRATIN	CHICKEN CHILES RELLENOS STRATA recipe will post 1/25	CHICKEN CORDON BLEU	JACKFRUIT TACOS with GREEN APPLE SALSA	BBQ CHICKEN	GRILLED PIMIENTO CHEESE SANDWICHES with TOMATO BISQUE	MISO BUTTER ROASTED CHICKEN
DESSERT		CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE	CHEESE APPLE CRISP

In order to take favorite photos, one must first leave the house. That hasn’t happened this week, so here’s a favorite from New Year’s Eve of my winning charcuterie board. And of my white Christmas Cactus that’s blooming up a storm.

• VANILLA BEAN CHEESECAKE

• PIGEON RIVER CHICKEN
• CRUNCHY FRUIT CRISP
• GREEK GAZPACHO SALAD
  

MERRY CHRISTMAS friends. I hope you are all having a blessed and wonderful holiday surrounded by friends and family.

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

Unfortunately, we have no snow this year for Christmas. But, it’s raining and cold – go figure 😀 We will be staying home and cozy today. A few friends may drift in and out as they make their way home from their various family celebrations so I will get out of my PJ’s and put on something warm and cozy. It may not be snowing, but it IS raining and bone chilling cold. We’re supposed to be in the 40’s all week for highs with gray, cloudy days and 30’s at night for the lows with lots of rain. EL NINO years are so unpredictable and change the forecast frequently, sometimes hourly.

BLOGMAS 2023 is a wrap (pun intended). I had a good time and was able to keep up in a relaxed fashion because I was so ahead of the rush this year. It was nice to be able to sit back and enjoy so much more of the holiday. I hope you had a wonderful preparation time and thoroughly enjoy today with your family and friends.

BLOG 365 was also a success (mostly) and while some of that was due to BLOGMAS 2023 with double dipping days, I actually did fairly well the rest of the year after I got into a good routine. So, I will be attempting to BLOG 366 next year 😀 And nope that’s not a typo, it’s a leap year.

My uncle continues to weigh heavy on my thoughts as he is declining, but my mom is doing much better with good reports.

I’m making an oven omelette and hash browns for brunch for us later this morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I deep cleaned preparing for today so ALL the laundry and everything is up to date. GROCERIES & ERRANDS There is nothing personally other than a pedicure this week for me to do. My friend that does the other half of the shopping for the Eagles has an out of town appointment on shopping day this week though so I will be doing ALL the shopping on Wednesday which can be a HUGE endeavor because of the New Year’s Eve Party next weekend. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Nothing that won’t wait until 2024 😀 RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ll be adopting a new strategy for 2024 where I finally try all the recipes I have tagged in my cookbooks – 1 cookbook per month I hope.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Most of the DVR is cleaned out and the “NEW” seasons are beginning to start again so we will see what shows survived the strike and go from there.

I’m reading Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini.

	MONDAY 12/25	TUESDAY 12/26	WEDNESDAY 12/27	THURSDAY 12/28	FRIDAY 12/29	SATURDAY 12/30	SUNDAY 12/31
DINNER	PRIME RIB, FONDANT POTATOES, ASPARAGUS	PORK RAGU, APPLES & BACON	BROWN SUGAR PORK CHOPS, SOUTHERN CORNBREAD STUFFING	SAUCY PORK CHOPS, SOUTHWEST ONION UPSIDE DOWN CORNBREAD	I’m cooking at the Eagles ~~~~~ LASAGNA & GARLIC BREAD with SALAD	ROLLED FLANK STEAK with CAULIFLOWER GRATIN	BLACK EYED PEA CHILI & CORNBREAD for lunch ~~~~~ CHARCUTERIE BOARD CONTEST for NEW YEAR’S PARTY
DESSERT	VANILLA BEAN CHEESECAKE				CRANCHERRY CAKE

This may be my new favorite ornament. It’s actually a key chain my girlfriend attached to my Christmas present and I so love it!

• CHUNKY MONKEYS
• HOT HONEY LIME CHICKEN
• CARAMEL APPLE HAND PIES
  

Good morning friends. I know we will ALL be super busy this week with Christmas only 7 days away. I hope you take the time to enjoy these moments as you move through 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

Every year I always hope for snow on Christmas, but it really looks like we’ll be disappointed this year. It will be super cold and wet, but not snowy 🙁 Our highs will be in the mid forties (maybe) and lows in the 30’s. It really is like I have a uniform this time of year. Levis, mock turtlenecks, flannel shirts and UGG’s.

I’m making my Christmas list and checking twice, as I make sure I haven’t forgotten anyone or anything for Christmas. I’m also making several lists and preparing to make 2024 an even more organized and productive year in every way possible. I have felt discombobulated for a bit now and looking to streamline a few things.

Hot water, yogurt and a banana.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be doing ALL the laundry and deep cleaning tomorrow as well as the rest the week as I do the holiday baking for the neighbor plates. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be doing the last of ALL the pre-Christmas grocery shopping and errands and shopping today before meeting a girlfriend for a late lunch. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS just a couple things that need a quick handling this week. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING this is done through the remainder of 2023, but I know it will be in flux and many meals will hold over into 2024.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

This past week has been just holiday baking shows, Hallmark Christmas movies and  couple old classics to clean out the DVR.

I’m starting a new book tonight ~ Canary Girls by Jennifer Chiaverini. It sounds like it will be really good.

“Rosie the Riveter meets A League of Their Own in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini’s lively and illuminating novel about the “munitionettes” who built bombs in Britain’s arsenals during World War I, risking their lives for the war effort and discovering camaraderie and courage on the football pitch.

Early in the Great War, men left Britain’s factories in droves to enlist. Struggling to keep up production, arsenals hired women to build the weapons the military urgently needed. “Be the Girl Behind the Man Behind the Gun,” the recruitment posters beckoned.

Thousands of women—cooks, maids, shopgirls, and housewives—answered their nation’s call. These “munitionettes” worked grueling shifts often seven days a week, handling TNT and other explosives with little protective gear.

Among them is nineteen-year-old former housemaid April Tipton. Impressed by her friend Marjorie’s descriptions of higher wages, plentiful meals, and comfortable lodgings, she takes a job at Thornshire Arsenal near London, filling shells in the Danger Building—difficult, dangerous, and absolutely essential work.

Joining them is Lucy Dempsey, wife of Daniel Dempsey, Olympic gold medalist and star forward of Tottenham Hotspur. With Daniel away serving in the Footballers’ Battalion, Lucy resolves to do her bit to hasten the end of the war. When her coworkers learn she is a footballer’s wife, they invite her to join the arsenal ladies’ football club, the Thornshire Canaries.

The Canaries soon acquire an unexpected fan in the boss’s wife, Helen Purcell, who is deeply troubled by reports that Danger Building workers suffer from serious, unexplained illnesses. One common symptom, the lurid yellow hue of their skin, earns them the nickname “canary girls.” Suspecting a connection between the canary girls’ maladies and the chemicals they handle, Helen joins the arsenal administration as their staunchest, though often unappreciated, advocate.

The football pitch is the one place where class distinctions and fears for their men fall away. As the war grinds on and tragedy takes its toll, the Canary Girls persist despite the dangers, proud to serve, determined to outlive the war and rejoice in victory and peace.”

We finally agreed on a menu for Christmas dinner also. I’ll be making a prime rib with stacked fondant potatoes, roasted asparagus with Hollandaise, Holiday jello salad and a Cherry vanilla cheesecake.

	MONDAY 12/18	TUESDAY 12/19	WEDNESDAY 12/20	THURSDAY 12/21	FRIDAY 12/22	SATURDAY 12/23	SUNDAY 12/24
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
	I WILL BE	BAKING	A LOT THIS	WEEK FOR THE	NEIGHBOR	PLATES!	😀
DINNER	CARIBBEAN CHICKEN & KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD	ORANGE GLAZED MEATBALLS with BUTTER ROASTED POTATOES	CAJUN CABBAGE & FLYING BISCUITS	THANKFUL THURSDAY TURKEY DINNER @ LAMPLIGHTER	CHICKEN CORDON BLEU & CORN PUDDING	I’m cooking at the Eagles and we’ll be having TRI-TIP SANDWICHES, BAKED BEANS and PASTA SALAD	SHRIMP PLATE & SNACKS
DESSERT	CINNAMON ROLLS	CRANBERRY BLISS BARS	BRIGADEIROS	BUTTERFINGER COOKIES	SNICKER DOODLES	SHORT BREAD COOKIES	WILL DISTRIBUTE THE NEIGHBOR PLATES TODAY

I actually took a few pictures this week. We also had a couple hours of no fog so I got at least one picture of Mr. & Mrs. Santa as they headed out to the parade. But, by the time the parade started the fog had rolled back in so thick that the fires truck that started the parade was inside an EERIE haze.

We have had so much rain already this year that the yard is growing mushrooms EVERYWHERE. This one is about 8 inches wide and still growing! And this is the last box for social services and will be picked up tomorrow 😀

• CREME-DE-MENTHE BROWNIES

• CIDER GLAZED CHRISTMAS CAKES
• PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
• GREEN & WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
  

Good Morning friends. It’s a cold, gray and foggy morning her in the Pacific North West. Grab a cup of coffee and join me as we get this week going?

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

2 weeks until Christmas? Are you ready? Is anyone ever truly ready? I just try and appreciate each day as it happens and like Ross said in the famous FRIENDS couch scene, PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVOT as necessary. 😀

It’s gray and foggy and supposed to be cloudy today, but at least the rain seems to have abated for the next few days, which is great. We’re used to wet weather here as a norm, but this year has been so much so fast! I’m looking forward to a non-wet week, but that usually means colder without the clouds to hold in the heat. As normal, I’m wearing Levi’s, a mock turtleneck with a flannel over shirt and UGG’s. High this week will be in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s.

I actually began feeling a bit stressed this past week with a few things (roof leaks on a brand new rook, tons of package to organize and wrap for the social worker to pick up last Saturday for the family I adopted, dead car battery…) but, things have begun to settle and life is returning to normal.

I’m also trying to get a hold of the roofer (AGAIN) this year for the same leak as last year on the BRAND new roof. I know how it’s happening, but he refuses to believe it – MEN! sometimes they are so exasperating!

Do you need some new holiday cookie recipes? There’s a COOKIE EXCHANGE going on over at What’s for dinner with some fun recipes. I shared several of our favorites yesterday.

BLOGMAS 2023 is in FULL swing. I hope you have time to join in.

Back to hot water and yogurt. I’ll just have to settle for smelling hubby’s coffee of a morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m taking this week to finish up wrapping presents for the foster kids that we adopted at the Eagles as well as finish making some messy homemade gifts. Hubby and I are also spending a day in the “BIG” town an hour away to finish Christmas shopping. I plan to get caught up on the laundry and deep clean next week just before Christmas. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I was supposed to go into town tomorrow to pick up my new porch trees, but that was changed for me late yesterday so I’m adapting already early here on Monday morning. Looks like today’s schedule will be moved until tomorrow and tomorrow’s schedule will be moved to Wednesday. Thursday I have to deliver the gifts for the foster kids and will finish my Christmas shopping then so I can mail packages by Friday. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I have a phone call to follow up on that has been a cat and mouse game for the past week. I’m also trying to finish up my last jewelry tree and wrapping gifts. I have the Christmas cards addressed and am finishing up the notes on the insides so I can mail them tomorrow. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING The menu is planned through December, but as with all things holidays I’m staying adaptable and changing as necessary 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

We’ve been watching Holiday baking shows, Hallmark Christmas movies and a few old classics as well as CHEERS to fall asleep by.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
DINNER	TOMATO BEEF BASIL SOUP & GRILLED CHEESE	OUT	CHICKEN PAPRIKA & APPLE DRESSING	ALMOND CRUSTED PORK CHOPS with CIDER SAUCE	WHISKEY PINEAPPLE CHICKEN & KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD	PORK CHOPS with PINEAPPLE SOY SAUCE & BACON GREEN BEANS	CARNITAS with HOT PINEAPPLE SAUCE
DESSERT		CRANBERRY BLISS BARS

The owners have finally updated Herbie this year so he’s more festive. I noticed yesterday that we’ve got some seriously large mushrooms growing under the maple tree and I want to make some of these cute little gnomes I saw at a bazaar the other day. And I’m glad to have saved those Costco boxes to help organize the gifts for social services to pick up.

• MEXICAN STREET CORN CASSEROLE

• BEEF TIPS IN ONION WINE SAUCE
  
• BUFFALO CHICKEN MONKEY BREAD
  
• PINEAPPLE CHILI MEATBALLS
  

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 my friends. It’s cold here so grab a warm beverage and join me in getting this last week of November started. We are literally only 3 weeks until Christmas! Are you ready? Do you at least have a plan?

There’s still time to join in with BLOGMAS 2023. You can find my posts to date here.

Imagine that we’re having a ton of rain here in the Pacific North West 😀 The storm that passed through this weekend was quite warm by comparison to what we normally have, but it dropped a TON of rain and we’re on flood watch quite early in the season.

Hubby and I noticed yesterday that there is already a TON of standing water and running small “rivers” in areas that don’t normally see this until later in the season.  I checked two different weather sites and there is no change in the foreseeable future other than the temperature will be dropping back down into the normal range with highs in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s so you guessed it I’m still wearing Levis and layers of flannel for comfort as I start my holiday baking.

I can’t believe 2024 is only 4 weeks away! 2023 seems to have flown by so quickly! I have a list to accomplish yet in 2023 and have started one for 2024 that I want to efficiently accomplish, much of it in January alone.

I also took a look at the posts already published in 2023 and those that are scheduled for the rest of the year and calculated in the posts for BLOGMAS 2023. While I “missed” a few days of continuous posting I have enough days of multiple posts that I realized I’m 4 posts over BLOG 365 😀 making me extremely happy that I will have mostly accomplished this task – WHEW, but that was a lot of pressure for the year.

Nothing this morning. I’ve had several “off” days and just don’t feel well 🙁

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be making a few more homemade gifts today, wrapping presents as well as yeasted cinnamon rolls so will be making quite a mess today and will do a deep clean tomorrow. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I only need a few things from the store for a special dinner on Thursday and will get those when I go into meet some girlfriends for lunch on Tuesday. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m hoping to get my desk area cleaned up later today. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through new years.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Lots of Holiday baking shows and Christmas movies peppered with some old syfy movies.

I’m trying a couple novels on for size, but not sure which one I’ll settle on first. A dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen and The Heart Match by Phillipa Nefri Clark

	MONDAY 12/4	TUESDAY 12/5	WEDNESDAY 12/6	THURSDAY 12/7	FRIDAY 12/8	SATURDAY 12/9	SUNDAY 12/10
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
DINNER	BBQ BRAISED BRISKET & BUTTER BEANS with COTTAGE POTATOES	ALMOND APRICOT CHICKEN	HOT CHICKEN SALAD	SPECIAL DINNER with a close friend before she goes on vacation PORTERHOUSE ROAST, JACKET POTATOES, WILTED SALAD, PEAR VODKA BREEZES	CARNITAS with HOT PINEAPPLE SAUCE	PORK CHOPS with APPLE STUFFING and 3 CHEESE SOUFFLES	LINGUINE and RED CLAMS
DESSERT				APPLE CRANBERRY DUMP CAKE

There wasn’t much of an opportunity to take many pictures (other than food) this past week, but I did get quite a few turkey shots at a friend’s cabin and my neighbor sent me this pretty shot of our Christmas decorations from her house.

• CHOCOLATE CARAMEL BARS
• BACON MAPLE BARS

• CREAMY RUSTIC TOMATO SOUP with GRILLED CHEESE ROLL-UPS
• CHOCOLATE FUDGE MARBLE CELEBRATION CAKE
• ORANGE BRAISED CHICKEN
  

Good Morning my friends. It’s cold here so grab a warm beverage and join me in getting this last week of November started. We are literally only 4 weeks until Christmas! Are you ready? Do you at least have a plan?

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’s been COLD BRRRRRR can you say layers and layers? It’s 26° right now, but we are supposed to get to 47° later today. I always laugh because that 47°, if we even reach it will only last 20 minutes. In reality as I dress for the day it will be 35-40 degrees for the majority of the day. Levis, UGGs and a mock turtleneck with a flannel will be today’s uniform and a favorite hoodie if I even go outside today. We’re supposed to be in this pattern of cold and clear until it begins raining again this weekend when we are supposed to get 5-10 degrees warmer.

BLOGMAS 2023 is in full swing and you can find the previous days here. Join in if you can and don’t forget to leave me a comment so I can know you’re playing along and I can know to visit you 😀 My organizational abilities are paying off and so far I’m up to date on BLOGMAS, but I’ve fallen a bit behind on BLOG 365, about 30 posts which I’m really trying to finish up, but I’ll reevaluate in a couple weeks since I’ll have so many days with duplicates from BLOGMAS. I bet I’ll end up over 365 LOL

I’m trying some maple brown sugar oatmeal with golden raisins this morning and a few sips of coffee.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did ALL the laundry on Saturday, including the bedding and towels so I could change out to the electric mattress pad for the winter and even folded it and put it away, but you know how laundry is – the minute you put the last piece away, you realize someone has dirtied a towel or thrown a pair of socks in the hamper. LOL 😀 I’ll call it a win! GROCERIES & ERRANDS I will be taking my friend who had the ankle replacement to the doctor on Thursday and if all goes well we’ll be having a celebratory lunch! I’ll be going to the Christmas Fair on Friday so will do ALL the shopping while I’m in town that day. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Lots of paperwork, but no travels. I have a few Christmas gift projects that I WILL BE getting done this week! RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I planned the menus through December and several to evaluate for January.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

At night we’re re-watching CHEERS to fall asleep by, but in the evenings we’re watching cooking shows and Hallmark Christmas movies mostly. There are a few odd shows that have been taping, but I guess the “new” season will be in full swing in January?

I’m still reading Jana DeLeon’s Undertow, book #3 of her Tempest Island series – just too busy and tired to get to much more!

	MONDAY 11/27	TUESDAY 11/28	WEDNESDAY 11/29	THURSDAY 11/30	FRIDAY 12/1	SATURDAY 12/2	SUNDAY 12/3
DINNER	TEXAS RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE	HAWAIIAN LEMON CHICKEN & RICE PILAF	GREEN POTATO SOUP & RANCH CRACKERS	OUT for LAMPLIGHTER THANKFUL THURSDAY TURKEY DINNER	CHEDDAR CRUST CHICKEN POT PIE	POTATO CHOWDER & PARMESAN RANCH ROLLS	SPLIT PEA SOUP with BUTTERMILK BISCUIT DUMPLINGS
DESSERT		ORANGE ROLLS				MAGIC COOKIE BARS

We had to drive out a bit further into the country to pick up a couple Christmas presents on Saturday (the only shop small I did as I’m making the majority of gifts this year) and it was super cold (our high that day was 37 degrees for about an hour!), but it was absolutely beautiful. I was actually able to get a couple pictures of some favorite old barns.

And my Amaryllis is about to make a December appearance. The paper whites are next 😀

• RUM RAISIN PUMPKIN PIE
• CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESE ~ RUBY CHOCOLATE

• CHICKEN CHILE RELLENOS CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
• PECAN CHICKEN with MAPLE CREAM GRAVY
• HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

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

Oh my, where did last week go? It started out so great and then just flew by! I know I didn’t get to visit everyone, but am so hopeful that this week will be better with the downtime on Thursday. We’re going to be just the 2 of us for Thanksgiving so I’m planning on vegging on Thursday and playing catch up with visiting blogs.

I’m also planning on beginning BLOGMAS on Friday and will be posting this year’s LOGO and list tomorrow 😀 I was hoping to have it done for today, but spent all of yesterday helping with a Thanksgiving meal at the Eagles and was just plain worn out last night.

We have had a ton of rain and even had a pretty BIG storm on Saturday night that left what leaves were still on the trees everywhere but and the first bits of snow on the hilltops east of town 😀 This week is supposed to be drier, but also MUCH colder! Funny thing is that what I’m wearing doesn’t really change that much – I just add another layer 😀

There is still A LOT going on and I’ve been extremely busy this week also, but weighing heavy on my mind is some health concerns with my mom and uncle. My uncle is doing better this week than last fortunately. Prayers are still needed for all of them.

On the home front I can’t believe Thanksgiving is Thursday. Fortunately, we aren’t planning a big one and the pivot on the menu is something I’m now looking forward to.

I’m going to a lunch for a sweet lady later so am only doing hot water this morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did most of the laundry over the weekend, but still have a load of sheets to fold today and a load of jeans that I’ll set to wash before I leave for lunch so it’s ready for the dryer when I get home. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have NO intention of setting foot inside a store this week – way too chaotic for me 😀 I do have an appointment for my COVID booster on Wednesday. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS not the week for ANY of this! RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I was lucky to get this week planned, but am looking toward the planned downtime to get more organized for 2024.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

AMAZON PRIME- MAX I’m 3 episodes in on the new show JULIA CABLE – Holiday Baking shows, Hallmark Christmas Movies, Dancing with the Stars, Quantum Leap, Magnum

I just started Jana DeLeon’s Undertow, book #3 of her Tempest Island series

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	take your turkey out of the freezer to thaw!
LUNCH				HAPPY THANKSGIVING
DINNER	STEAK & POTATO SKILLET	TEXAS RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE	BUFFALO MACARONI & CHEESE BITES	STEAKS on the GRILL with BUTTER ROASTED POTATOES AND BALSAMIC CARROTS	GRILLED ORANGE GINGER CHICKEN and COTTAGE POTATOES	BBQ BRAISED BRISKET with BUTTER BEANS	SOURDOUGH TURKEY MELTS
DESSERT				RUM RAISIN PUMPKIN PIE		CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POPCORN

I finished my Highland Cow Christmas pillow Saturday. Painting on a flexible fabric canvas is so much harder than a framed canvas and uses so much more paint as well as requires more creativity to get the right textures.

• CHERRY BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS & PINEAPPLE COMPOTE
• SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN DIP
• BARNYARD PIE
  

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

Imagine that, it’s cold, gray and foggy here in the Pacific North West. We’re slated for a week of low 50’s with rain and showers all week. You know what that means? It means a week of soft, cozy flannels and maybe even an afternoon or two of curling up with a good book. 😀

There has been A LOT going on and I’ve been extremely busy, but weighing heavy on my mind is some health concerns with my mom and 2 different uncles. Prayers are needed for all of them.

On the home front I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only 10 days away. Fortunately, we aren’t planning a big one, but the meal I ordered for the day has been mis-delivered and I’m having to pivot on the menu.

I actually have a slow morning planned, well maybe not slow, but at least I don’t have to leave before 11AM for a change. So I’m having some oatmeal and a bit of coffee this morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite being busy, I’m actually caught up on both laundry and cleaning 😀 GROCERIES & ERRANDS I did the grocery store yesterday and have no other errands except a doctor appointment and hair cut later this week. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS SO much to do, but am kinda waiting to hear about one uncle in particular that may influenece things this week. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING totally up in the air right now

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Christmas movies and baking shows primarily along with catching up on FEAR the Walking Dead and Justified

I’m STILL working on Marie Force’s WILD WIDOWS #4. I keep falling asleep before I finish even a paragraph.

	MONDAY 11/13	TUESDAY 11/14	WEDNESDAY 11/15	THURSDAY 11/16	FRIDAY 11/17	SATURDAY 11/18	SUNDAY 11/19
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
DINNER	CHARCUTERIE SPREAD FOR CRAFT NIGHT	BAKED ITALIAN MEATBALLS & PASTA with VODKA SAUCE	BRISKET BLACK BEAN CHILI	CHICKEN TEMPURA & SALAD	MEATLOAF, MAC & CHEESE and ROASTED CARROTS	CORN/YOYO clean out fridge or you’re on your own	SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
	JEWELRY CHRISTMAS TREES					PILLOW PAINTING with a FRIEND
DESSERT	APPLE CORNBREAD CRISP and CARMELITAS and MAPLE BACON BARS		COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES

We went axe throwing and out to dinner with a group of friends on Saturday night and then I was at an Eagle’s fundraising event on Sunday. We had a great time at both. Axe throwing was fun, but not something I would do on a regular basis – so cross that off the bucket list. It was Niki’s first BIG night out since she got her walking boot after the ankle replacement. There were even a few BULL’s EYES thrown.

Sunday was a create-N-sip picture painting that I will have to finish later this week (I still have MANY details to add as well as the snow storm), but am fairly happy with. One of my besties added her IRL dog to her picture and it is truly uncanny how much it looks like her dog, Daisy! There were so many fun interpretations.

STILL WORKS IN 2023 OR 2024 😀

• VERTICAL SCALLOPED AU GRATIN POTATOES

• CHERRY BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS & PINEAPPLE COMPOTE
• SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN DIP
• BARNYARD PIE

I don’t know about you, but I really can’t believe we’re in November and Christmas is only 49 days away! I’ve been busier than ever (or so it seems), but still have so much I want to accomplish this year. Thank goodness they gave me an hour back yesterday (insert snickering here 😀 )

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 cannot believe this year only has 2 months left. Hubby helped me get out the holiday decorations last week. Ever since COVID I have decorated early and leave them up late. I just love Christmas! For me it truly is about the season and the reason for the season. I LOVE doing the baking and sharing with others. BUT, EVERYTHING is so expensive this year! We’ve decided to scale back drastically and make this a truly old fashioned Christmas. If your can’t eat it or drink it or enjoy it with others, it’s not on our Christmas list. 😀

I’m really hoping that I can enhance BLOGMAS this year and increase our Christmas spirit (which is already pretty high). Our neighbors are wonderful people and I LOVE sharing with them as I bake or create new recipes. They are always honest about the new recipes which I adore so I really appreciate their input. Mark paid me the most wonderful compliment the other day when I took over a pan of Chicken Chile Enchiladas and homemade refried beans when their daughter was visiting. He said I’m always thinking of others and doing nice things for them. Isn’t that what this life (and Christmas) is all about? It is to me and I think the best way for me to start my BLOGMAS season 😀

I’ve also realized that doing BLOG 365 is something I’m glad I’ve done (mostly) this year, but I think next year will be more intentional and purposeful blogging instead of just racing to fill each day.

100% chance of cold and rain so there’s a 100% chance of flannels and UGG’s this week for me. I LOVE living where it’s cold, but I HATE being cold and especially cold toes! We had thunderstorms and pouring raining ALL of Saturday with a short break Sunday morning before it began all over again by lunchtime.

I’m in holiday mode! Don’t hate me, but my Christmas tree is up! Well mostly up, I’ll finish today. We’re not having anyone over for Thanksgiving and on those years I start with Christmas early. It’s my favorite time of year and the cold makes it seem okay to decorate early. We will restrain ourselves and not decorate outside until after Thanksgiving though 😀

I am having some girlfriends over for a charcuterie board and Christmas jewelry tree making get together later today so thought having the tree up would be inspirational.

I spent most of the rainy weekend baking for the Eagles bake sale yesterday and preparing a raffle basket for a pool tournament/memorial for a sweet man who recently passed away. It was hosted by a local bar & grill that my girlfriend manages and she asked me to help her. We raised  close to $1000.00 for his family.

Have I mentioned how much I miss being able to have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning? Especially on cold fall/winter mornings? 😀 This morning is hot water and raisin oatmeal before I brave the cold rainy morning to get the grocery shopping done.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m working on the baseboards and carpet edges that collect the dust that vacuums just don’t reach. GROCERIES & ERRANDS just a few for myself. My friend that had ankle replacement surgery is now in a walking boot and overjoyed with being a bit independent again. I need to get to town and get a few things for tomorrow’s Eagles dinner that I’m now subbing in for as the regular cook for Tuesday will be away. Her husband is having surgery later today for a bladder cancer recurrence – please keep Robert in your prayers. We’re having Creamy Rustic Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers which will be perfect for this weather!! PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made my way through another stack of notes and filing 😀 RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to sit down this week and plan out the rest of the year with intention.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Christmas movies and baking shows seem to be on the forefront now that we’ve cleaned out the DVR and caught up on the summer things.

Wild Widows #3, Someone to Love by Marie Force.

 

	11/6 MONDAY	11/7 TUESDAY	11/8 WEDNESDAY	11/9 THURSDAY	11/10 FRIDAY	11/11 SATURDAY	11/12 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH & DINNER	SIRLOIN CAP & GERMAN DUMPLINGS	CREAMY TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE DIPPERS (I’m filling in for a friend at the Eagles whose husband had surgery yesterday)	BEEF STEW & CRUSTY SOURDOUGH	CHICKEN WINGS & POTATO SALAD	YOYO / CORN YOU’RE on YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT since my girlfriend and I will be out of town visiting some craft fairs in a neighboring town an hour away	OUT with FRIENDS TO a FAVORITE RESTAURANT & AXE THROWING EVENING 😀	YOYO / CORN YOU’RE on YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT FRIDGE NIGHT I’ll be at a fundraiser for the Eagles MOST of the day
DESSERT	WALNUT POLVORONES		APPLE CORN CRISP

I left quite early on Saturday to run errands and go to the fall craft fair, which wasn’t as good as normal, but had I not gone I would have missed this incredible morning shot of the foggy and stormy pond.

• FRUIT PIE BARS

• CHEDDAR MUFFINS
• BROWN BAG APPLE PIE
• HAWAIIAN STIR FRY PINEAPPLE BOATS