Category: MENU PLAN 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

I can’t believe it’s another Monday already. Where did last week go? It was a great week – very productive in many ways. I hope it was a great week for you too!

Besides my normal list I cleaned out and sorted several desk drawers of small bits and pieces and a bedroom closet while looking for something, so it was time consuming, but productive 😀

Due to the current “climate” in the country due to COVID, wild fires etc… AND the sky rocketing gasoline and lodging prices we’re rethinking our trip for this month and instead opted for a few days at the coast to recharge and refresh in cooler temperatures for our BIG anniversary. We’ll take the other trip in September or October.

I’m jumping right in this week in hopes of this week being as productive as last.

The weekend weather wasn’t bad at all, Sunday was especially nice, but we’re inching back into triple digits this week with a little higher humidity and still have smoke in the air. 🙁

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Washer is still down so will make a trip to the laundromat later in the week. Hopefully Whirlpool will have better news this week – we are at their mercy due to the warranty. GROCERIES & ERRANDS We are rethinking the trip and may do something more local for our anniversary and for just a few days, but I’ll wait until we get back to do any serious grocery shopping. I do have a hair appointment tomorrow. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I still have a list to accomplish. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on September now.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX I found a new series, OUTER BANKS, that I’m enjoying. PRIME Hubby found a new series to try, DOOM PATROL about a group of super hero misfits that we’ll try when the price becomes more reasonable. DISNEY+ Turner and Hooch season 1 RED BOX We rented the new Billy Crystal movie, Here Today and Angelina Jolie’s, Those Who Wish Me Dead and they were both good. CABLE Finished up the Olympics, Buddy VS Duff, Master Chef. Guy’s Grocery Games, Svengoolie, Nascar, BBQ Brawl

I started Heather Webber’s The Lights of Sugar Berry Cove

We went to the local county fair last Friday – not bad for being thrown together last minute (they just weren’t sure they were going to do it right up until the last minute this year).

There were certainly fewer of everything – exhibits, animals, vendors…, but what was there was quite good.

One of my favorites was this 4 Her and Future Farmer of America, Sylvia and her twin goats, Kandy Korn and Kettle Korn – she’s holding Kettle Korn. Kandy Korn is brown with black markings and wouldn’t stand still enough for a good picture.

The baby goats were probably my all time favorites. This little guy who decided the food bowl was the best place to sleep was adorable.

But, the cows, horses and pigs were pretty cute too!

I also finished one of my paintings from last week, but think I used too much sparkle in the sand so am rethinking it a little bit and will do some muted touch ups.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN & SALAD	HAM STEAKS, FRENCH FRIES & SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR OR YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN NIGHT	ENCHILACOS	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR OR YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN NIGHT	CHICKEN DIVINE & SALAD	CHICKEN YAKITORI
DESSERT		MAGIC LEMON CHERRY COBBLER

• BLUEBERRY LEMON or LIME CURD MUFFINS
• CRUST LESS APPLE PIE
• PINEAPPLE CHERRY CRUMBLE
• KANSAS CITY BBQ RUBBED PORK CHOPS

• PEA & BACON SALAD
• BARNYARD PIE
• DR PEPPER BBQ CARAMEL CHICKEN
  

• HONEY BOURBON PECAN CHICKEN
• HASH BROWN TOPPED MEATLOAF
• PEANUT CHICKEN RAMEN
• GREEN CHILE GRAVY
• MAGIC COBBLER – updated FLOATING FRUIT CAKE
  
• CHICKEN YAKITORI

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 have all had a wonderful weekend. Ours was good and quiet. With the excessive heat we have been staying in doors a bit more and watching movies, catching up on some reading and even beginning a couple new paintings. They both need a lot of finishing, beach grass for the beach scene and big sunflowers in front of the barn, small weedy flowers around the barn and the woodwork on the barn itself, but at least the basics are on the canvases. I was hoping to finish one of them last night, but a reaction stole my time. Have I mentioned how much I hate having reactions?

We’re still in the mid 90’s and have been having less wind and higher humidity – both of which are good for the firefighters, but lousy for the rest of us.

I’ve been having way too many reactions and setbacks with the stomach /sugar issues. I’m still hopeful that they regulate themselves, but also realistic that it may never happen 🙁

So, once again it’s hot water and yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Washer quit a few weeks ago and it took us a week to get a repairman out to do the warranty work. There are NO repairmen available locally (gotta love small towns during a pandemic) for warranty work so it is always a hassle! The repairman said the motherboard is fried and that there are no replacement parts available. Despite that, WHIRLPOOL has 21 business days (so until August 27th) per the legal ease of the warranty to either find a part somewhere or then decide to replace the machine with a new one. Chances are the part is sitting in a cargo container somewhere just waiting to be unloaded 🙁 Thank you COVID and global supply chain breakdown. So, we went to the laundromat and WOW, just WOW have they gotten expensive!!!!!! I had a week’s worth of laundry to do when it broke down plus 2 more weeks after that! GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m trying to work the menus around the freezer and pantry on hand before we leave on our trip, but still need a few things. There are a couple appointments for hubby also. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have several of each to do this week. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Most of the menu and planning is done for before we leave on our trip.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX HOMEFRONT STARZ JERICHO, RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL PEACOCK 100° BELOW ZERO, THE RUN DOWN, JAWS (1975 original) PRIME BRIDGE OF SPIES DISNEY+ TURNER & HOOCH CABLE OLYMPICS, BUDDY vs. DUFF, BBQ BRAWL, BEAT BOBBY FLAY, G3 GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, SVENGOOLIE, a couple HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES

I started Heather Webber’s The Lights of Sugar Berry Cove

We walked around the pond the other day while it was still early and not too horribly hot yet. There was plenty of wildlife despite the pond level being seriously depleted by the drought 🙁 The geese were amazing though giving me a great show.

We encountered this guy, who I named Wilbur, that for some reason was a couple hundred feet from where he should be and headed away from the water. Not sure how he ended up there, but he had a boo boo on his back and was stuck in the brush so hubby picked him up and got him back near the pond. Wilbur was so thrilled to be back in the water!

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN & NOODLES over MASHED POTATOES like grandma used to make	CHICKEN & WILD RICE with HERB SAUCE and GREEN BEANS	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/ YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	CHICKEN DIVINE & SALAD	SLOPPY JOE POCKETS & CORN ON THE COB	BBQ RIBS & SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/ YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
DESSERT		FLOATING FRUIT CAKE

• BROKEN SKILLET LASAGNA
• GRILLED SPICY LIME PORK CHOPS
• SPICY SOUR CREAM CUCUMBERS

• MACARONI POTATO SALAD
• LEMON THYME CHICKEN
• BROKEN SKILLET LASAGNA
  

• CRUSTLESS APPLE PIE
• BARNYARD PIE
• BLUEBERRY LEMON or LIME CURD MUFFINS
• PINEAPPLE CHERRY CRUMBLE

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

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend full of sun and family fun.

Ours was fairly quiet. My main activity was when I spent a few hours Friday making 36 mini pineapple upside down cakes as a dessert for an Eagles Auxiliary dinner on Friday night. My friend made the most wonderful Cobb Salads with grilled chicken. The original plan was for 30 dinners, but the city started their music in the park program that day and we ended up selling 44 salads (many of them to go for the park) so we obviously ran out of dessert. Next time I’ll make a significant amount of extras. I’m sure they won’t go to waste 😀

We did go out for lunch on Saturday after hubby weed whacked the back hill that backs down to the highway as some added safety towards fire season.

We grilled some burgers on Sunday with some FRESH yummy pasta salad, played some Mexican train dominoes, watched some of the Olympics, a few movies and stayed out of the heat (yesterday hit a pretty still 94 degrees) for the most part. There was a nice breeze most of the day EXCEPT in the middle hottest part of the day.

We’re supposed to be under a new “Heat Dome” this week into next. The drought and fires are bad here and getting worse so that’s NOT good news 🙁 We received a notice this week that watering anything besides a food garden is strictly forbidden. We NEED rain desperately! We had a drier than normal winter and spring and now summer has been completely rain free. The creeks, rivers and ponds are sooooooo much lower than normal. Ironically we did have a sprinkler leak that we just fixed and now is obsolete as the system is turned off.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING The washer stopped working on Friday (fortunately it’s under warranty – unfortunately they can’t come until Tuesday 🙁 ) so there will be lots of laundry to do. I need to do a bit of vacuuming and de-cluttering. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an early morning appointment this morning with my primary doctor to get the “necessary” by insurance referral to see my ophthalmologist for an eye infection – which really ticks me off because it’s really just a way to generate an office visit for money. Tuesday is supposed to be a pedicure that I’m going to cancel because of the washer repairman. Wednesday is an early morning appointment with the ophthalmologist and then I’ll do the groceries. I also signed up for BUNCO on Wednesday night at the Eagles. Thursday is a POWER RED blood donation for hubby. Since I can’t donate, he donates all that he can for the both of us. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I’m hoping to finish sorting and de-cluttering a pile on my desk and finishing up our reservations for our trip next month. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m going to do a freezer and pantry inventory to work from before our trip. I’ll also do a menu based on what I have on hand.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX RUSH with Chris Hemsworth and Olivia Wilde DVD’S HOME FRONT with Jason Statham, James Franco and Winona Ryder, RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL with Nicholas Cage and Laurence Fishburne DISNEY+ SULPHUR SPRINGS CABLE OLYMPICS, BUDDY VS. DUFF, BBQ BRAWL, GUY’S GROCERY GAMES

I keep falling asleep almost immediately so I’m still reading Jana DeLeon’s newest book, Backrush

But, I’m hoping to finish this week so I can start Heather Webber’s The Lights of Sugar Berry Cove

I’ve been keeping an eye on the neighbors garden while they have been away the past 5 weeks. The flowers are still looking good, but the grapes are beginning to suffer.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN & WILD RICE CASSEROLE & SALAD	ROAST FENNEL CHICKEN & HARISSA CARROTS	COBB SALAD	CORN/YOYO  CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT ~ YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	grilled HAMBURGERS & PASTA SALAD	UNSTUFFED PEPPERS & SALAD	CORN/YOYO  CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT ~ YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
DESSERT		APPLE PIE BARS Molly Yeh

• CRISPY HOT HONEY WINGS
• DR. PEPPER CARAMEL BBQ CHICKEN
• MACARONI POTATO SALAD
• CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CRINKLES

• HAWAIIAN CHICKEN
• CHICKEN FRICASSEE
• ANTIPASTO SALAD
  

• BROKEN aka SKILLET C.O.R.N. LASAGNA
• SPICY CUCUMBER SALAD
• GRILLED SPICY LIME PORK CHOPS

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

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Ours was productive and quiet and I can’t say that upsets me. An “unplugged” and “down” day soothes me A LOT lately.

Friday and Saturday were super productive with errands and lunch out, planning our route for the trip next month, laundry and cleaning so I got caught up on the DVR on Sunday, did some reading and we grilled dinner and virtually nothing else.

For summer, the weather hasn’t been half bad. Unfortunately we are pretty far behind in rain this year and there are way too many fires going in our state.  The Bootleg fire is a couple hours away from us. I read that it is growing 1,000 acres per hour!!!! A friend with the National Guard said his unit is being sent to help along with many others – unfortunately with the drought on top of it and lack of jet fuel they aren’t able to fight these fires like they normally do with aircraft and such 🙁

So the breeze is awesome for us against the heat, but horrible for the fire fighters. 🙁

Hot water and baby food squeeze, Apple, Carrot, Pineapple.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get the cleaning and laundry done on Saturday, but there is still some sorting and de-cluttering I’m working on. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be heading into town for a few errands and groceries today and then I have a haircut on Thursday. Hubby has a doctor appointment Wednesday and I have a painting class Thursday night. I’m also making the dessert for an Eagles dinner night on Friday. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have a few things to handle this week and a couple phone calls to catch up on. I also need to make the room reservations for our trip. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I have the menus made until we leave on our trip next month, but still need to do a bit of research and reworks to do on several of them.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Virgin River DISNEY+ Finished season 1 LOKI MOVIES Monster Hunter, The Mummy (1959) CABLE The Good Witch, Guy’s Grocery Games, Buddy VS. Duff, BBQ Brawl, NASCAR, Girl Meets Farm, Bobby Flay, Master Chef, Big Bang and Night Court Reruns

I started Jana DeLeon’s newest book, Backrush

My mom’s house backs up to a highway and has a real “dead” spot in the back that is easily accessible because of the way her fence is. So, hubby made her this cute little “Kilroy” was here type sign, just for fun and hopefully scare someone that happens upon it.

Her friend saw it and really liked it, so he made one for her too. We went and installed it on her fence the other day. Her son came home late that evening and went out on the patio for a phone call and just about jumped out of his skin thinking that someone was looking over the fence.

All I have to say is 😀 JOB well done!

I’ve been working on cleaning out my recipe stash and making as many new receips as I can to eliminate the clutter of paper scraps. And our CORN AND YOYO nights have been moved to Fridays and Sundays to accommodate a couple of our schedule changes.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	BAKED GENERAL TSO CHICKEN, RICE & SALAD (REE)	CHICKEN & WILD RICE CASSEROLE (MOLLY)	GRILLED BROCCOLI, GRAPE & CHICKEN SALAD (MOLLY)	LOADED MEXICAN STREET CORN TATER TOTS (MOLLY)	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	UNSTUFFED PEPPERS & SALAD	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT/YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
DESSERT		NO CRUST APPLE PIES

• PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE with PINK PEPPERCORN CARAMEL
• HAWAIIAN CHICKEN
• PEA & BACON SALAD with FRENCH DRESSING
• CHICKEN THIGH FRICASSEE

• JET TILA inspired FRIED RICE
• CHICKEN PARMESAN MEATBALLS
  
• PINEAPPLE PEPPER LIME CHICKEN

• DR. PEPPER BBQ CHICKEN & POPPY SEED DRESSING
• GRILLED SPICY LIME PORK CHOPS
• CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CRINKLES
• ANTIPASTO SALAD

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 your weekend was as good as mine was. Mine was very relaxing. We slept in a bit on Saturday, but then had a nice morning at the Car and Quilt show. It was cancelled last year due to COVID, but was back this year. It’s held at a local River Park (the same one that does that amazing light show at Christmas time) so it was beautiful with the cool breeze, grassy area and the river flowing by. There weren’t quite as many cars or quilts as in years past, but you gotta start somewhere.

Sunday was spent watching the NASCAR races and catching up on some older television shows. We grilled some steaks and I made some pineapple upside down cake for dessert. It was so nice that we spent some time just relaxing on the patio and I was able to get quite a bit of reading done. 😀 It felt good to just relax a bit.

We have cooled down considerably and have had an almost regular strong ocean breeze that makes it seem even nicer than it is during the day and we’re cooling down well at night. It’s summer so it’s okay by me. I love having season changes. Unfortunately we also have several fires burning early in the season 🙁

Issues, issues, issues again 🙁 hot water and baby food squeezes are my friend

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did the laundry yesterday, but need to vacuum GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m working out of the freezer and pantry this week, but do have a few other errands to do in town PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I’m working my way through the pile of sorting ad filing as well as phone calls RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m good though July and am starting on the first 2 weeks of August. We’re planning on being gone the last 2 weeks of August so I’m not stressing too much on any one recipe.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Virgin River CABLE Nascar, BBQ Brawl, Guy’s Grocery Games, The Good Witch, Hallmark’s Crashing Through the Snow, The Food Truck Race, Girl Meets Farm, Valerie’s Home Cooking

I just finished A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean and I LOVED it! Just when you thought you had it all figured out she’d toss in a subtle plot change that made so much sense I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought about it before. For some reason I’m drawn to WWII stories that play out in our time.

Now I’m about two thirds through The First Wife’s Secret by Claire Amarti and while they are entirely different stories I’m enjoying it just as much.

I’m still editing the pictures from the car and quilt show we went to over the weekend, but here is one of my favorites. It transported me back to watching the movie Grease. I could just see them racing for pink slips in a car just like this 😀

Since we are in the last half of 2021 – yep, you read that right, I’ve started a Christmas wall hanging using a quilt technique, quilting each square as you go, that I have personally never done before.

And just to punctuate the point:

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	SALAD with GRILLED STEAK TIPS & LEMON ANCHOVIE VINAIGRETE	CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN & SKILLET LATKE & GREEN CHILE GRAVY	HONEY HOT WINGS & POTATO SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	ROAST CHICKEN with FRIED POTATOES	BAKED GENERAL TSO CHICKEN with RICE & SALAD with POPPY SEED DRESSING	????? something on the grill
DESSERT		PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE & CHERRY PINEAPPLE CRUMBLE

• LEMON THYME CHICKEN 2 WAYS
• JET TILA inspired FRIED RICE
• RESCUE WRAPS 
• 49er CHILI & CHILI DOG CASSEROLE

• ASIAN KETCHUP MEATBALLS 
• CHICKEN PASTA SALAD 
• JALAPENO HONEY STICKY WINGS
  

• CHICKEN THIGH FRICASSEE
• PEA & BACON SALAD with FRENCH DRESSING
• HAWAIIAN CHICKEN

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 that you all had a safe and wonderful holiday weekend full of fun and relaxation too. Our was a quiet weekend since I was down and out Friday night and Saturday so we took it easy yesterday. With living in the country and the high risk of fires we tends to stick really close on the 4th just in case of firework mishaps.

We’re in a traditional summer pattern now which seems wonderful after last week’s excessive heat from the heat dome. We’ve also been having very pleasant ocean breezes almost daily that make things really, really nice.

I had a bad week and a pretty bad reaction Friday night and Saturday so am really watching what I eat A LOT! Breakfast is hot water and baby food puree.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be doing some laundry today. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an appointment in town on Tuesday so will be doing my errands that day also. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS Still trying to get through last week’s pile RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I did get the next couple weeks of menus and grocery lists done over the weekend.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX The Ice Road with Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne was really good TUBI Independence Daysaster which was a substitute because we couldn’t find and format carrying Independence Day with Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman (and a WHOLE cast of other BIG names) which is our 4th of July normal – kinda like It’s A Wonderful Life is at Christmas. It was not too bad and we may even seek out the sequel. Speaking of Bill Pullman has anyone seen the new Budweiser commercial? I think they did a great job. PRIME The Tomorrow War with Chris Pratt DISNEY+ Loki and The Mysterious Benedict Society CABLE The Great Truck Race, BBQ Brawl, Svengoolie, Hallmark Christmas in July starts Friday and the only new movie, Chasing Through The Snow will be Saturday which I’ll record.

I’m in the middle of A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean

 

This guy won the patriotism award at our favorite tavern yesterday.

Since we back up to a country highway with tons of brush, hubby was ready for the potential of fireworks mishaps yesterday.

I still have touch ups to do, but I’m pretty happy with this week’s painting 😀 And it was appropriate for the holiday.

I’m trying some new recipes this week from some of my current favorite chefs 😀

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	SKILLET CHICKEN LASAGNA & SALAD	ANTIPASTO SALAD YUM! (Valerie Bertinelli)	SNAP PEA & BACON SALAD (Molly Yeh)	CHICKEN FRICASSEE (Arron May)	Y.O.Y.O./C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	SLICED AVOCADO & LIME SALAD (Molly Yeh)	STEAK & FRIED POTATOES
DESSERT		CHERRY PINEAPPLE CRUMBLE

• ASIAN KETCHUP MEATBALLS
• CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
• CHICKEN, BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD with VINAIGRETTE
• PINK ALFREDO PRIMAVERA MEATBALLS

• BETTY WHITE’S CHICKEN WINGS
• PAN SEARED CHICKEN in GARLIC CREAM SAUCE 
• BAKED SHEET PAN HAMBURGER STEAKS
  

• 49er CHILI & CHILI HOT DOG CASSEROLE
• JET TILA inspired FRIED RICE
• RESCUE WRAPS 
• SPICY CUCUMBER SALAD 

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

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day weekend with lots of family, fun and relaxation! Our was quiet with a couple small projects and errands. We also went for pizza (hubby’s choice) at one of our favorite restaurants.

Hello Summer! Bring on the sunshine! I know it’s hot just about everywhere, but it’s really been tolerable here with refreshing breezes – just don’t stand out in the direct sun too long!

Hot water and strawberry banana smoothie

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got caught up on laundry yesterday GROCERIES & ERRANDS I do need a few groceries for this week’s menu and hubby and I both have doctor’s appointments PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have some paperwork I have to get done this week RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are made through the first week in July and the heat has really set in so I may reevaluate it a bit

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Tried to watch Black Summer, but not my kind of Zombie series DISNEY+ Hoping to try LOKI this week TUBI We’ve been watching Petticoat Junction which were before my time, but kind of cute for a black and white sit com from the 60’s and have started HIGHLANDER with Adrian Paul 😀 We also saw SNITCH with Dwayne Johnson and an old Jerry Stiller/Anne Meara movie, A Fish in the Bathtub CABLE Just catching up on cooking and baking shows

I’m between books and will be starting one of these this week. A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean, The CookBook Club by Beth Harbison, Seaside Manor Bed and Breakfast by Lilly Mirren or What We Find by Robyn Carr

When we re-did the flower beds, garden beds and whiskey barrels last year we purchased all new garden soil to fill the new beds. While it can’t be explained, evidently there were calla lily bulbs ground up into the new garden soil somehow. We have NEVER planted calla lilies before, but now have them coming up like volunteers beautifully everywhere we placed the new soil 😀

The bees have been having a hey day with the pink mallow and heather especially.

The hummingbirds have been flitting about everywhere with all the flowers in bloom.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	RIBS with PINEAPPLE HABANERO GLAZE, CORN on the COB and FRIED POTATOES	TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE	HOISIN MEATBALLS and SLAW	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN and SALAD with BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE	LEMON THYME CHICKEN and FRIED POTATOES	ALFREDO MEATBALLS and CUCUMBER SALAD
DESSERT

• GARLICKY SHEPHERD’S PIE
• INSTA POT STICKY PORK LETTUCE WRAPS
• BETTY WHITE’S CHICKEN WINGS
• BAKED HAMBURGER STEAKS

• SHRIMP PAD THAI
• TOMATO SCALLOPED POTATOES
• P3 PISTACHIO PLUM PLATZ
  

• CHICKEN MADEIRA
• CHERRY BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS
• ORANGE BEEF LETTUCE WRAPS
• GRILLED SPICY LIME PORK CHOPS

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 dear friends! I feel like I’ve been gone from blogland for months instead of just days, but I’m back!

How was your weekend? We helped my mom with her garage sale for the citywide community sales. The weather was horrible on Friday – cold (50’s), windy, rainy and then great on Saturday at almost 80 and almost sunny. We had more people on Friday by far and in the end did quite well with sales. That said I have at least 3 loads of things to drop off to Salvation Army this week, but at least it’s over and mom’s house is cleaned out.

It’s supposed to cool and even a little rainy today and tomorrow and then we’re supposed to head into Father’s day weekend and the beginning of summer with a serious bang in the 80’s and 90’s.

Hot water and peach yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was able to get caught up a bit yesterday with what I didn’t get done prepping for the sale. I got the bed changed and caught up on laundry, but I have to be honest I’m exhausted! GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have appointments Monday (pedicure), Tuesday (hair) and Wednesday (endocrinologist) mornings where I can also work in a couple errands (groceries, walmart and post office) each day and dropping off a load of Salvation Army each of those days too. Thursday we need to do a few long distance errands and I have baking to do for the Eagles dinner my friend is hosting on Friday night. She’s making French Dip sandwiches with individual Angel Food cakes topped with a strawberry & blueberry sauce. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I need to sift through a pile and get quite a few things done. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I was able to get the meal plan done for the next 10 days and have several recipes set aside to make the plan through mid July, but haven’t had the energy yet to get it done.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Outside the Wire, Beyond Skylines, Time Trap and a couple episodes of Outlander REDBOX The Marksman with Liam Neeson, The Little Things with Denzel Washington, American Traitor, the Trial of Axis Sally and The Courie DISNEY+ We didn’t have a chance to get to Mandalorian this last week. CABLE Most shows have finished up for the season, but Christmas in July is coming to Hallmark soon! 😀

I finished THESE TANGLED VINES by Julianne MacClean which I really enjoyed and am following it up with her THE COLOR OF DESTINY.

I hadn’t even picked up a camera this week with all the garage sale prep, but I did do a little Pinterest surfing and fell in love with this kitchen! so thought I’d share the picture with you.

And then yesterday evening there was a group of #Teenagers that showed up at the #Front door and wanted to trade new tires or $25 for #ANYTHING. They were on a #ScavengerHunt. They started with a single #Penny and had to go #DoorToDoor trading up to larger and #Odder items. Having just had a #GarageSale Friday and Saturday my car and garage were full of the #Leftovers that I need to haul off to #SalvationArmy starting today. So I told them to keep their tires and their $25 AND take whatever they wanted from the pile of donations. They took the #MudFlaps for a #Bounder #MotorHome a #ChristmasCookieJar a #Vacuum 2 #BeachChairs a #BeachUmbrella #Honda #TireChains and … have fun #FamilyChurch #YouthGroup I hope you won😉

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	SHEPHERD’S PIE & SALAD	CHERRY BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS & PASTA SALAD	KUNG PAO CHICKEN with FRIED RICE & CUCUMBER SALAD	CHICKEN, CORN & BLACK BEAN SALAD	EAGLES dinner (French Dips & Angel Food cakes with Strawberry Blueberry Sauce	BEEF & GREEN BEAN STIR FRY & FRIED RICE	HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN with SALAD & BALSAMIC DRESSING
DESSERT		ANGEL FOOD CAKES

• LEMON CAKE with LEMON CURD FILLING, LEMON BUTTER FROSTING & CANDIED LEMONS
• MEXICAN MANICOTTI
• COWBOY COOKIES

• ZESTY GARLIC GREEN BEANS
• CHILI LIME CHICKEN
• SOUR APPLE SLAW
  

• SHEET PAN BAKED HAMBURGER STEAKS with MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS
• INSTA POT STICKY PORK LETTUCE WRAPS
• BETTY WHITE’S CHICKEN WINGS 

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

This time last week we were unseasonably high in the 90’s. This week not so much and it looks like it will be on the cooler side all week with a chance of rain for the garage sale days 🙁

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ve been helping my mom the past couple weeks get ready for a garage sale and last minute decided to try and get some things together for it also so have a real need to do some deep cleaning. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I need to head into town and pick up just a few groceries as I’m out of eggs and a few things and will drop off a few Amazon returns and get gas while I’m there. I also have an opthalmologist appointment on Wednesday, need to get the radiator and transmission service done on my car and blood drawn for my annual endocrinologist appoint next week as well as my mammogram on Friday morning. WHEW who planned this week? When I originally planned this week the garage sale was NEXT week and then we found out there was a city wide garage sale THIS week that the chamber of commerce is doing a digital map for so we moved it up. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have a list of things I need to get accomplished in this category, but honestly don’t think I’ll have time to get to anything until after the garage sale next weekend. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I need to start planning the last of the month, but have been lacking in energy!

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Finished Stargate SG1 and was hoping to watch Stargate Atlasntis, but NETLIX isn’t carrying it. We’re also finishing Season 1 of The Crew with Kevin James. We also started Sweet Tooth – looks interesting. DISNEY+ Mandalorian CABLE Finally caught up on everything we missed while we were traveling and am watching cooking shows now.

I’m just finishing up THESE TANGLED VINES by Julianne MacClean and will follow it up with her THE COLOR OF DESTINY.

We went to a car show on Saturday and I was really surprised at the wonderful turn out for the first local outdoor event.  There were quite a few really cool cars and some with some great signage too. But, this dog really made me laugh. So I stuck with a “dog” theme – the hot dog vendor, Hound Dog Salvage and the dog relieving himself. 😀

While cleaning out the attic and going through all of mom’s Christmas decorations we ran across these. She thought I made them, but they were made by kid brother who wants no part of them so this is the last the world will see of these macaroni ornaments.

Hubby found this cute little dragonfly hanging out in the garage and brought him outside before closing the door.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	MELISSA’S SHEPHERD PIE	POTATO TOPPED MEATLOAF	CHICKEN PASTA SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	CHICKEN, CORN & BLACK BEAN SALAD	BETTY WHITE’S CHICKEN WINGS & 2 POTATO OVEN FRIES	BEEF & GREEN BEAN STIR FRY
DESSERT		ANGEL FOOD CANDY

• BRAISED RED CABBAGE
• PORK SCHNITZEL
• AVOCADO & RED ONION SALAD
• MELISSA’S CHICKEN A.K.A. CHICKEN IN MUSTARD SAUCE
  

• PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY & THYME ROAST CHICKEN
• VESUVIO CHICKEN
• BLUEBERRY LIME NO BAKE CHEESECAKE
  

• PICKLED CARROTS
  
• BARNYARD PIE
  
• COWBOY COOKIES
  
• BAKED HAMBURGER STEAKS & ONIONS
  
• LEMON CAKE with LEMON CURD FILLING, LEMON BUTTER FROSTING and CANDIED LEMON SLICES
  

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’m back! Did you even miss me? I missed being able to easily visit everyone and am looking forward to getting caught up this week. We came back to cooler weather, but this week looks like it will be heavenly 😀 in the 60’s and 70’s.

As I settle back into a routine, I see that we are ALMOST through half this year. Where did it go?? I was only gone 3 weeks, but it felt like 3 months – we did 10 days of project research, the family reunion which I coordinate so it can be a bit involved trying to deal with snapfus and such and then a week at my SIL’s house updating her electronics and issues.  WHEW I need a vacation from my vacation 😀

Our trip was wonderful, but it is so nice to have the laundry done and things back in their places, even if just temporarily. Even so, we are planning another trip in August for our BIG anniversary and hopefully the last of the project research 😀

The family reunion went really well despite hating the location! Long story short, we investigated several new venues on the way home for a new site in 2022.  We have this reunion EVERY year (except last year – thank you COVID for breaking our perfect record) and are REALLY excited about the new site we found.The group coordinator I’m working with is wonderful and has even helped us arrange a short trip in August for our anniversary so we can get the “lay of the land”.

It is an RV resort park that will accommodate all the family members with their own RVs or trailers as well as those that want to rent cabins or tent sites. It also has plenty for the littles to do recreational wise and is near by to wine tasting, the Solvang Danish community and even an Ostrich/Gnu farm. I spent most of last week organizing the new venue and letters to family members to get the reservations in place. WHEW, glad that’s over except for the trip hubby and I are even going for in August for our anniversary to acclimate ourselves so that next family reunion goes smoothly.

Hot water and apple, carrot pineapple toddler squeeze.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Pretty much up to date! GROCERIES & ERRANDS way NOT up to date. I’m going this morning to get a long overdue pedicure, do errands, pick up maps for the next trip and get groceries for the week. I’m also helping my mom get ready for a garage sale with her golfing friends next weekend and then another for her house in June. PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I have a BIG stack to deal with this week, but it is HIGH on my priority list! RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I only have menus planned through June 3rd so seriously need to update this category!

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

NETFLIX Army of the Dead, finish Stargate SG1 season 9 DISNEY+ finish season 1 of Mandalorian CABLE We have a TON of things from when we are on our trip that we will be catching up on this week, but we did a binge of FEAR the WALKING DEAD last night and got all caught up on at least 1 show 😀

Hubby and I were listening to Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series on audible during the trip and heard 3 books.  Next trip we’ll do books 4-7 or 8, but in the meantime I’m reading book 20 – Fortune Funhouse!

Editing is HIGH on my list. I know many of you have been following along on my InstaGram feed so you know what I mean! But, I do have a favorite, well one of many favorites, but this one is pretty special. I got my niece laughing and she rewarded me with SUPER SWEET picture!

Some old family friends celebrated a REALLY BIG anniversary recently. When I got to my SIL’s house and saw this invitation with a picture of their wedding day, it really made me smile. Can you guess who Ted looks like?

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	BAKED LEMON GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN & ROASTED VEGGIES	EGG ROLLS IN A BOWL with AVOCADO RED ONION SALAD	C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT	MELISSA’S CHICKEN & GREEN BEANS	BOURBON PECAN CHICKEN & WILD RICE	HUNGARIAN CHICKEN & CREAMED PEAS	PORK SCHNITZEL & BRAISED RED CABBAGE
DESSERT		CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

• BLUEBERRY LIME NO BAKE CHEESECAKE
• VESUVIO CHICKEN
• ZESTY GARLIC GREEN BEANS

• BROCCOLI SLAW 
• MISO GINGER CHICKEN
• PAN SEARED CHICKEN with WILTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

• GARLIC & LEMON CACIO E PEPE
• LEMON & HERB MARINATED GRILLED CHICKEN THIGHS

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

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

Still on our trip for a couple more days, so will reevaluate later this week and be back to normal by next Monday!

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Just what SIL had on her TV and then a couple hotel rooms. We’ll catch up later this week.

Hubby and I will be listening to the rest of the series on Audible while we’re on the road. Last week we heard books 1 Louisiana Longshot & 2 Lethal Bayou Beauty and we will start book 3 Swamp Sniper on our way home from SIL’s tomorrow.

I’ll edit photos after we get home, but I do have these 2 – the 45 foot wide flower that is made of ice plant.  My SIL planted this on her property below her garden area after my BIL passed away and it has truly been the talk of the town for a few years now. It can be seen from the Laureles grade between the Carmel valley and Salinas.

The next picture is of the most wonderful mushroom tamale. In fact it is the most delicious tamale I have EVER had!  It was drizzled with a delicious tomatillo sauce, pico de gallo, micro greens and toasted pepitas.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	ON THE ROAD	ON THE ROAD	ON THE ROAD	??	??	??	??
DESSERT

• SOUR APPLE SLAW
• CHILE LIME WINGS
• ITALIAN CHICKEN & RICE

• ZESTY GARLIC GREEN BEANS
• VESUVIO CHICKEN
• BLUEBERRY LIME NO BAKE CHEESECAKE