MEMES & LINK PARTIES – Page 106 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 29 of 2020

GOOD MORNING dear friends. I hope this finds you all well. This will be a bit abbreviated today as we’re traveling. Fortunately, I have several recipes scheduled to post during my absence.

I’m sorry I haven’t gotten as much visiting down while we’ve been traveling, but I will play some serious catch up next week when we get home. We are having a wonderful trip and exploring nature while distancing from people and are really enjoying the change of pace.

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

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE & WHAT I’M WEARING It’s actually quite warm for this far north, but completely tolerable. It’s supposed to be in the low 80’s and no rain in sight!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE Hot water and baby food like always – nothing changes while traveling 😀

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE, WEEKLY TO DO LIST, HOUSE & CRAFT PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS NOPE, No WAY, not this week, but there will be plenty to do when we get back! 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV Nothing while we are traveling

I’M READING I didn’t get much reading done as I thought I would while we ere traveling so I’m just starting The Book of Lost Friends and Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton. I’ve also loaded my kindle with a couple more in hopes of some down time to more reading while we’re gone.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA We are still traveling and I have many photos to still edit, but here are a few that are ready and the link to my Instagram photos which I am doing daily while we’re on this trek is on the right side bar or on the bottom of the page. We once lived in a town that ended in “FALLS” only to find out the falls had been converted years before we moved there to a power plant with no more falls. So now when we go places that end in “FALLS” we always check to make sure there really are falls to see.

INSPIRATIONAL

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK None while we’re still traveling

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

FEATURED PARTY LINKS FOR THIS WEEK

RECIPES TO LOOK FOR THIS NEXT WEEK OR SO

CREAMY ROQUEFORT BLUE CHEESE DRESSING
SHEET PAN RANCH PORK CHOPS
UPDATED CHICKEN CACCIATORE
FARMHOUSE CHOPPED SALAD

NATIONAL SECRET KEEPING DAY ~ WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE – VOL. 376

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge over at This Side of the Pond.

1 The Hodgepodge lands this year on National Secret Keeping Day…on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being I’m a blabbermouth and 10 being I’m a vault) how good are you at keeping secrets? Of the following nine jobs listed for people who can keep a secret-cybersecurity worker, executive assistant, housekeeper, lawyer, nuclear plant technician, physician, private investigator, psychologist, security guard, which one most interests you and why?

This is an interesting question to say the least! At one point I was an executive assistant and very good at the job and keeping things quiet when they needed to be. I have also kept MANY secrets for people over the years. I’m still keeping some for my cousin even after 22 years, BUT I am a BIG believer in NOT keeping secrets as a general rule. I do discern between whether it is mine to tell or needs to be told by someone else as in my cousin’s case 😀 But, of these jobs if I were to pick the one that most interests me it would probably be a psychologist. I really wonder what makes people tick! And what better way to figure that out than by hearing their secrets.

2 What’s the secret of life (or one of them anyway)?

Another thought pondering question. For me, it would be NOT TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF and to remember that IT’S ALL SMALL STUFF. Once something has happened, you cannot go backwards and undo it, so it is important what you do to learn from it and move forward. IT IS WHAT IT IS and life goes on. STAY POSITIVE!

3 Off the record, best-kept secret, a fly on the wall, top secret, my lips are sealed, secret shopper, as quiet as a mouse, poker face, spill the beans, open secret, bite your tongue…which secret idiom can you best relate to right now? Explain.

Right now, BITE YOUR TONGUE works for me. We’re going through some things with hubby’s little sister and the less I say the better.

4 Spill here the secret ingredient in one of your favorite recipes?

QUALITY is the secret ingredient whether it’s cinnamon, honey or vinegar… There is a difference in the brands. Find the QUALITY one with the least amount of preservatives or additives and the most natural, flavorful taste and you have a winner. The old adage, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR is ever so true when it comes to QUALITY ingredients.

5 My mama celebrates a big birthday tomorrow (Wednesday). Share a favorite quote, song lyric, saying, or verse of scripture that will add some sunshine to her day (ours too!)

DON’T JUST COUNT YOUR YEARS, MAKE YOUR YEARS COUNT! ~GEORGE MEREDITH

6 Insert your own random thought here.

TUESDAY 4 ~ HOUSEKEEPING

This week the Tuesday 4 topic is housekeeping. Click here to play along.

1 What do you consider the most important job or chore to do in housekeeping?

They are so very important, but the VERY most important job to me is ORGANIZATION and staying one step ahead of always being behind LOL 😀 That means doing the dishes right away, folding the clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer, taking the trash out before it overflows…

2 Do dishes ever sit over night in your sink?

NOPE, I can’t stand dishes in the sink EVER! There is an occasional pot or pan that might soak for an hour, but that’s it!

3 Is being a stay at home mom a real career?

ABSOLUTELY! AND IT IS NOT A JOB FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

4 Can you share favorite brands of dish soap, cleaners, detergents or perhaps a tip on making house keeping easier?

Once again my answer is ORGANIZATION! I use simple cleaning products – lots of soap, Mr. Clean, Plain old bleach and vinegar.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 28 OF 2020

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

GOOD MORNING

I have found that one of the best ways to deal with this crazy world is to laugh! I saw these 2 memes recently on facebook and I keep been astounded by people’s sense of humor 😀

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE & WHAT I’M WEARING It’s going to be a great week both here and where we’re going and not all that different despite the distance. We decided to go see friends for awhile mid week despite what’s going on in the world. We will be extremely careful, especially because of my lack of immunity, but we are going to an area that has even lower numbers than we have here and I am ALWAYS super careful.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE Hot water and Carrot Apple Pineapple Toddler Squeeze – this stuff is actually quite tasty 😀

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE, WEEKLY TO DO LIST, HOUSE & CRAFT PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS

MONDAY	CLEANING & LAUNDRY and I’m still working on getting Savory Kitchen Table more organized and back to my working ways.
TUESDAY	WASH CAR, LAST MINUTE ERRANDS
WEDNESDAY	TRIP
THURSDAY	TRIP
FRIDAY	TRIP
SATURDAY	TRIP
SUNDAY	TRIP

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV We’re hopefully going to finish the last ship before we leave this week. There are some cooking shows and Hallmark that will accumulate while we’re gone.

I’M READING I didn’t get much reading done last week so I’m just starting The Book of Lost Friends and Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton. I’ve also loaded my kindle with a couple more in hopes of some down time to more reading while we’re gone.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA We did a walk around the pond for the 4th and it was relaxing and pleasant with NO ONE around. I still have a bunch of pictures to edit. This is one of my favorite old barns in the area.

INSPIRATIONAL I saw this very powerful image over the weekend that kind of says it all.

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	GRILLED CHICKEN with PEACHES & GREEN TOMATOES	C.O.R.N.	TRIP	TRIP	TRIP	TRIP	TRIP
DESSERT		CHEESE CAKE

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

FEATURED PARTY LINKS FOR THIS WEEK

RECIPES TO LOOK FOR THIS NEXT WEEK OR SO

SHEET PAN SCALLOPED POTATOES
CHICKEN FRANCAISE
APRICOT VINAIGRETTE
SWEET & SPICY APRICOT BBQ CHICKEN

SUNDAY 6

To play along, link up with Martha at SEASIDE SIMPLICITY

1 WEEKLY RECAP It was a strange week, but oddly quick. I guess the holiday made it seem quicker than it was for some reason. We never go anywhere for the 4th anyway, but falling on a Saturday always seems to make it seem more like a long weekend. Based on the traffic I saw at the gas station and getting on the freeway I think a lot of people were traveling. I have to be honest it scares me because I saw a ton of camping equipment and boats which means there probably won’t be a lot of social distancing or masks going on.

2 WEEKLY TO DO

MONDAY	CLEANING & LAUNDRY
TUESDAY	WASH CAR, LAST MINUTE ERRANDS
WEDNESDAY	TRIP
THURSDAY	TRIP
FRIDAY	TRIP
SATURDAY	TRIP
SUNDAY	TRIP

3 MENU PLANS Since I’m not giving you much of a menu this week, I will give you my FAVORITE cheesecake recipe instead. It’s PERFECT every time! This time I made a creamsicle version.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	GRILLED CHICKEN with PEACHES & GREEN TOMATOES	C.O.R.N.	TRIP	TRIP	TRIP	TRIP	TRIP
DESSERT		AUSTRALIAN CHEESECAKE

I found this recipe in an old (1960’s) cookbook put together for a lake area homeowner’s association. I have no idea what makes it “AUSTRALIAN” and Ruth Traum is unknown to me so I can’t even ask her. I tried to do research and found several recipes called “Australian), but none of them said WHY they were “AUSTRALIAN”. Best I can tell it’s just a version of a no-bake cheesecake, but it’s SUPER airy and light.

Ruth’s recipe used lemon jello, but it is a simple thing to change up the flavor to your liking. I mixed a box of cherry and lemon, using only half then and saving the other half for another time. You can also substitute ginger snaps for the vanilla wafers or mix in some pretzels for and extra crunch… The second time I made it I used a combination of lemon and lime on the jello… The cherry was better, but we’ll try orange next time 😀

AUSTRALIAN CHEESECAKE ~ LEMON CHERRY
1 small box Vanilla Wafers (crushed to make 2 cups of crumbs)
6 tablespoons butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 small box lemon jello
1 teaspoon vanilla
Juice and zest of 1 LARGE lemon + hot water to equal 1 cup
~~1 LARGE can Carnation milk (VERY COLD)~~ 12 ounces VERY COLD heavy whipping cream
1 can pie cherries in glaze (optional)

Preheat oven to 300°.
Crush wafers and mix with melted butter until well mixed.
Press crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 or 9 inch spring form pan. If you use the 8 it will COMPLETELY fill the pan. If you use the 9 inch it provides a couple more pieces, just not as tall. 😀
Bake for 10 minutes and then cool.
Whisk jello into hot water mixture until dissolved.
Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Add in jello mixture until well blended.
Beat carnation milk with chilled beaters until very stiff.
Fold whipped milk into cheesecake mixture and pour into cooled crust pan.
Chill AT LEAST 8 hours, but this cheesecake is best made 24 hours in advance!
Top with whipped cream or pie cherries and enjoy!

4 SOMETHING TO SHARE The local paper ran an article on a coin shortage. Long story short the people who work the sorting facilities are NOT working right now so there is an actual shortage of coins in circulation and businesses need your help.

5 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK We did do a nice hike around the pond on the 4th. It was perfect and there was NO ONE else around. Usually there are a lot of people, fishermen, kayakers, etc… so we were pleasantly surprised and happy.

6 CLOSING THOUGHTS

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE – VOLUME 375

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge over at This Side of the Pond.

1 ARE YOU CURRENTLY MAKING PLANS OF ANY KIND? WHAT EMOTIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANNING PROCESS? HAVE YOU HAD TO CANCEL ANY PLANS DUE THE CURRENT SITUATION?

We had to cancel several plans during the spring including a family reunion. We haven taken one trip to my SIL’s house that went well, but was a bit different. And now we are planning a trip to see friends in another state. In a “normal” world we would just take off an see where we ended up along the way. In “THIS” world we are having to check distances, look for “SAFE” stops along the way to buy gas and use restrooms and make overnight reservations at “SAFE” locations. We will be packing a ice chest with snacks for along the way.

2 LAST TIME YOU SAW THE STARS, LITERALLY OR FIGURATIVELY?

Living in the country we can literally see the stars every night – at least those without cloud cover.

3 BLUEBERRIES, YAY OR NAY? BLUEBERRY PIE, BLUEBERRY MUFFINS, BLUEBERRY YOGURT, BLUEBERRIES BY THE HANDFUL… WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?

I love blueberries, but I am picky about them. I only like the small WILD blueberries. I LOVE blueberry muffins, but are not a fan of blueberry pie. I am NOT fond of eating them plain, but love them in vanilla yogurt with a handful of granola.

4 SWIM AGAINST THE TIDE, SWIMMING UPSTREAM, IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM, MAKES YOUR HEAD SWIM… CHOOSE A “SWIM” IDIOM AND TELL US HOW /WHY YOU RELATE?

Of those choices SINK OR SWIM fits my life best. It’s along the lines of TRY, TRY AND TRY AGAIN. I just don’t give up , but keep trying until I get it right.

5 SUM UP YOUR JUNE IN A SINGLE SENTENCE.

I don’t need a WHOLE sentence. A SINGLE word will do it! SURREAL 😀

6 INSERT YOUR OWN RANDOM THOUGHT HERE.

Years ago, hubby and I made a pact to quit watching the news so much. We always end the day with some old stupid comedy. As I observe so many others around me I see them watching more and more news, reading more and more facebook posts, many of which are either weeks old, but being passed along as if they are new news or some of them are actually FAKE news. There needs to be less media or MORE RESPONSIBLE media as well as MORE FACT CHECKING, DATE CHECKING, SOURCE VERIFICATION…

TUESDAY 4 – 4th of JULY

To play along join up with Annie here.

1 DO YOU THINK THE 4TH IS AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY? WHY? I think it is important that we have a national holiday of solidarity such as the 4th of July. I also think that many of the oppressive things (government, taxes, etc…) that led to pilgrimage to America that initiated the need for independence have crept their way into American life anyway over the years. But, it is still a time to come together as Americans and celebrate our freedoms, which are many. Here is a link to the history of the 4th of July.

2 HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE? Personally, we usually stay home at least of an evening. We have traditionally had pets that were afraid of fireworks so we would BBQ at home and stay near them to help comfort them from the neighbors that would start setting off fireworks early. We usually watch the celebrations on TV. In years past we have celebrated with neighbors, but only close to home.

When I was a young girl we always went to my aunt and uncles house who had a pool and spent the day with family. It was a long drive (about 2 hours) and after a day full of food and sun we’d drive home as it was getting dark and I would always look forward to seeing all the fireworks from town to town as my dad headed up the freeway.

3 IN THE TIME OF LAURA INGALLS WILDER, ALL AMERICANS READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON THE 4TH AND LEMONADE WAS A BIG TREAT FOR THE TOWN PICNIC. DO YOU READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE? OR YOUR NATION’S IMPORTANT PAPERS? ARE YOU A FAN OF LEMONADE? This question is the first I’d heard that the Declaration was read on the 4th in previous years, but it is something along with all the important documents that was taught in school at a fairly in depth level so there is a level of knowledge that is understood. And yes, if made well, I am a fan of lemonade, especially strawberry lemonade.

4 PICNIC – DO YOU EAT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE FOR THE 4TH? Honestly this question depends on the weather and where we are living at the time. When we were in Texas it was too hot and sticky to eat outside and sometimes here it can be too rainy or cool.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 27 of 2020

GOOD MORNING As we enter the 2nd half of 2020 I pray that the second half is SOOO SOOO much better than the first half! I recently saw a meme somewhere that suggested we have a “half year” new year’s eve party on June 30th to start fresh for July.

And for anyone who needs to know:

I also saw this cute little cartoon for July 😀

Last week was kind of a blur for me and I’m not sure why exactly! I do know that things we used to take for granted are now a lot more work. We’re planning a trip to see a friend and in the past we would just take off during the week and see how far we got and then find a hotel for the night. Not now though! I spent a couple days researching routes, distances, hotels, etc… so we can stay safe. I’ll pack a cooler with foods for the trip from here to there so we don’t have to stop except for gas. There is NOTHING NORMAL about this year!

We had a few days of excessive heat last week and then it cooled off significantly with rain that moved in Saturday night. We had a good weekend though… I did the laundry and some cleaning on Saturday followed by an afternoon drive where I got some great barn pictures and yesterday was MUCH cooler, rainy and lazy on the whole, but we did BBQ some chicken, watch some NASCAR and binge watched some more of The Last Ship.

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

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE & WHAT I’M WEARING It looks like it is going to be a relatively mild week.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE Hot water and Apricot Carrot Pineapple baby food squeezee

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE, WEEKLY TO DO LIST, HOUSE & CRAFT PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS

MONDAY	MENU PLAN & MAKE GROCERY LIST FOR TOMORROW
TUESDAY	GROCERIES & ERRANDS
WEDNESDAY	ORDER A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO BE DELIVERED AFTER THE 8TH
THURSDAY	PAPERWORK, CALLS & MISC.
FRIDAY	LAUNDRY & CLEANING
SATURDAY	CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATIONS FOR NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY	PACKING FOR TRIP

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV We just started season 2 of The Last Ship. We also watched a couple of movies on imDb – Hotel Artemis and Lonesome Dove Church. Like always there are also cooking shows and Hallmark movies to watch. Christmas in July begins July 10th 😀

I’M READING

Lately I’ve had 2 books going at all times. I just finished Lisa Wingate’s The Prayer Box and am starting The Book of Lost Friends and Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA Saturday afternoon was so nice we took a little drive and I got a few fun country photos. The clouds were really pretty against the blue sky and sunny afternoon.

INSPIRATIONAL

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN FRICASSE, CREAMED CORN, &CORN CHEDDAR MUFFINS	RANCH CHOPPED SALAD & FARMHOUSE BUTTERMILK DRESSING	C.O.R.N. Y.O.Y.O.	LEMON ARTICHOKE CHICKEN & SALAD	CHILI STUFFED ZUCHINNI & SALAD	GRILLED CHICKEN, PEACHES & GREEN TOMATOES with SALAD	CHERRY BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS & SALAD
DESSERT		WATERMELON & BALSAMIC GLAZE				CREAMSICLE CHEESECAKE

RECIPES TO LOOK FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with LEMON CHIVE SAUCE
BACON CHEDDAR CORNBREAD
BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BACON & APPLE HOT DISH

FEATURED PARTY LINKS FOR THIS WEEK

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

SUNDAY 6 – week 2

Martha, an old friend that I met through blogging years ago, had a great food blog with and have never actually met in real life, but feel like we’ve known each other forever… has returned to blogging after a couple years absence! She is doing what she calls, Sunday 6 over Seaside Simplicity as a link party. I hope you will play along too! Some of the categories overlap with categories I also do on Monday’s Happy Homemaker and Menu Plan Monday, but I’ll be brief in the overlap categories.

1 WEEKLY RECAP

2 TO DO LIST

MONDAY	MENU PLAN & MAKE LIST FOR TOMORROW
TUESDAY	GROCERIES & ERRANDS
WEDNESDAY	ORDER A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO BE DELIVERED AFTER THE 8TH
THURSDAY	PAPERWORK, CALLS & MISC.
FRIDAY	LAUNDRY & CLEANING
SATURDAY	CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATIONS FOR NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY	PACKING FOR TRIP

3 MENU PLAN

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN FRICASSE, CREAMED CORN, &CORN CHEDDAR MUFFINS	RANCH CHOPPED SALAD & FARMHOUSE BUTTERMILK DRESSING	C.O.R.N. Y.O.Y.O.	LEMON ARTICHOKE CHICKEN & SALAD	CHILI STUFFED ZUCHINNI & SALAD	GRILLED CHICKEN, PEACHES & GREEN TOMATOES with SALAD	CHERRY BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS & SALAD
DESSERT		WATERMELON & BALSAMIC GLAZE				CREAMSICLE CHEESECAKE

4 SOMETHING I’D LIKE TO SHARE

I honestly don’t have much to share this week. As I said last week for some reason was kind of a blur. I am still trying to regulate my medications and having eating issues because of the recall to certain medications, but am trying my best to make the best of it all.

5 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

We took the stale breads over and fed the Peacocks and turkeys this week. For a change the turkeys and Peacocks were playing nice with each other and sharing food. My guess is a lot of other people have been doing the same thing as a place to go and get out while still social distancing so they have lots of food and no need to fight over it. That said, we didn’t encounter any other human beings in the park 😀

6 CLOSING NOTES

Every single day I pray to wake up and find some form or normal has returned to our world. Then I have my coffee and realize that while I slept something else crept in to our world unchecked. I just pray that everyone finds it within themselves to be a kinder and nice people to think not only about themselves but all the others they share this planet with.

WEDNESDAY HODEGPODGE

It’s Hodgepodge time! Head over to From this Side of the Pond for this week’s question if you’d like to play along.

1. THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHERE WERE YOU?

This time last year we had just gotten back from my sister-in-laws house and I was working on some fun new summer recipes getting ready to celebrate the 4th with friends. I had just developed my latest cheesecake recipe for Blueberry Lime and learned to make Malasadas. This year will be a super quiet summer while still social distancing.

2. In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink?

Lately I’ve been loving a guava passion fruit juice and it is the prettiest shade of pink, but last night with dinner we had some pretty pink watermelon too. I have been eating it with a balsamic glaze reduction YUMMY! Typically I am not a pink kind of girl, but I do have a few summer blouses with some hints of pink in them and I did happen to wear a pink t-shirt yesterday 😀 and my toes are a bubblegum pink for summer right now. As for a favorite, probably fuschia bordering on magenta, but you won’t find it in my decorating except at Christmas time 😀

3. Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn…which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain.

HMMMMM tending to be an optimistic person at all times this is a hard choice for me. I’m a real “The Glass is Refillable ” kind of girl so I tend to see 3 sides to most things. If my grams was still with us she’d say Stop and smell the roses, but be careful of the bees or don’t let looking through those rose colored glasses tint how you really feel. I guess if I had to pick JUST 1 it would be a rose by any other name is still a rose. To me that just means that no matter what “spin” someone puts on something it won’t change the facts.

4. Are you a ‘reader’? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two.

I am a serious reader – always have at least a book going, usually 2! I LOVE series books and ironically even posted my Wednesday inspiration this morning about just that! I don’t necessarily change genres or theme from winter to summer – just depends on where I am in a series and if there is a new release! I just finished Gill Paul’s The Lost Daughter and right now I’m reading:

Lisa Wingate’s The Book of Lost Friends and The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate. Next up will be Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton

5. Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend.

The rose from the weekend was the fabulously good weather we were having and no rain in sight. The thorn was that there was nowhere to go and nothing to do because of COVID19!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I received a letter yesterday from my mail order pharmacy that one of my medications has been recalled. And while it was an informative letter to a certain degree, it did NOT actually address how to handle the issue. So, 3 phone calls later I have dealt with customer service and the pharmacist at the mail order pharmacy and the receptionist at my doctor’s office with the result that I have to have an “early refill” done and pay an additional copay to receive untainted medication. WTH? I was told that I could call the drug manufacturer directly to be reimbursed, but not to hold my breath or waste my time. While on principle I want to deal with this, it is 100% not worth any more of my time. :SIGH: When did it become easier to give in than stand up for what is right?

TUESDAY 4

My friend Martha is back to blogging over at Seaside Simplicity! I love it, because I find more and more ways to get back into blogging more than recipes by following her again 😀 So, it’s time for Tuesday 4 and this week it’s all about summer.

1. WHAT ACTIVITIES DID YOU ENJOY AS A KID IN THE SUMMER?

I grew up in rural southern California (when there was such a thing as rural in southern California) where the sun almost always shined. Summer were hot, but doable in the dry heat and we lived outside playing ball, climbing trees, riding bikes or swimming in friend’s pools or hiking to the frog pond or pig farm in the hills around our area. We were up with the sun and had to be home by the time the street lights came on. We did pop in for meals, but other than that we were expected to STAY outside.

2. DID YOU GO ON VACATIONS? WHERE DID YOU GO?

Vacations were not an every year thing for us. There were a few over the years, but it was usually shorter trips throughout the year that would be our vacations. There were a couple of summers that I spent in Texas with family, but all in all there were no actual summer vacations.

3. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SUMMER TIME DINNER?

We LOVE salads and homemade dressing in the summertime or anything grilled. Really anything that doesn’t heat up the house. Here are a few of our favorite recipes.

4. HOW OFTEN DO YOU SIT OUTSIDE AND ENJOY AN ICED TEA OR COFFEE?

We do like to spend the early mornings and evenings after dinner on the patio with either our coffee in the morning or a glass of wine and/or a beer in the evening. If it’s nice enough I will sometimes grab an iced tea and my kindle in the late afternoons.

Head over to Annie’s place to play along on Tuesday 4. And I’d love to hear about your summers too!

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 26 of 2020

GOOD MORNING I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and all your dads and hubbies had a relaxing father’s day. I’m in a bit of a hurry this morning so I’ll make this quick.

An old friend from my early blogging days has rejoined the blogging force and I joined in with her yesterday for Sunday 6. It is a really good lead in to today’s Happy Homemaker and 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

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE & WHAT I’M WEARING I have a long day starting with my mammogram at 830AM so have dressed comfy in jeans and a lightweight blouse with my favorite sandals to accommodate today’s heat.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE I’ll grab a banana and a bottle of water as I run out of the house to eat on my way.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE, WEEKLY TO DO LIST, HOUSE & CRAFT PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS

MONDAY	Mammogram Nail appointment Errands and groceries
TUESDAY	Pack up some things (winter blankets, etc…) for storage
WEDNESDAY	Letters, filing and phone calls
THURSDAY	Inventory freezer and pantry
FRIDAY	Cleaning & Laundry
SATURDAY	Project Research
SUNDAY	??

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV We finished the Homeland Series – boy was that addicting! Claire Danes did an excellent job (as did everyone else, but WOW just WOW was she convincing). We’re about to begin The Sopranos which we missed the first time around. We’re also watching TAXI and DHARMA and Greg which are always fun. We’re really addicted to binge watching shows these days. There are some cooking shows and NASCAR on the DVR to catch up on.

I’M READING Lately I’ve had 2 books going at all times. This week is Lisa Wingate’s The Book of Lost Friends and The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate. Next up will be Hurricane Season by Lauren Denton

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA There are a few this week. I’m really loving all the floral color at this time of the year. And a local tavern recently sold. They’re testing out paint colors (we vote for the green that’s not in this picture) and they added some motorcycle parking spots. I love that someone thought outside the box and added this cute little broken down pink bike for some humor. And I can’t believe that bumble bee posed for me and I was able to get the veins in his wings while I was on the move with just an iPhone!

INSPIRATIONAL

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SATURDAY	SUNDAY
DINNER	CHICKEN CACCIATORE & SHEET PAN SCALLOPED POTATOES	VINEGAR CHICKEN & TURNIP POTATO GRATIN	STUFFED PEPPERS & CABBAGE SLAW	C.O.R.N. acronym for clean out refrigerator night	CHICKEN PEANUT STEW & CHEDDAR MUFFINS	CHICKEN FRICASSEE, CREAMED CORN, & SALAD	APRICOT BBQ CHICKEN & BUTTERNUT, BACON, APPLE HOT DISH
DESSERT		LEMON LIME AUSTRALIAN CHEESECAKE