Category: MEMES & LINK PARTIES

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ H is for HELL ON WHEELS

HELL ON WHEELS was a GREAT show that we loved! After all, who doesn’t love Anson Mount? :SIGH: 😀 And even though it was fictional, it WAS based on real life!

HELL ON WHEELS – A traveling assembly of business establishments for railroad workers of the Union Pacific during the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Businesses typically included purveyors of equipment and supplies, as well as gambling houses, saloons, dance halls, and brothels.

Now I obviously wasn’t around when HELL ON WHEELS happened and #RailArt wasn’t even invented yet so we’ll have to settle for these images 😀

A to Z CHALLENGE – G is for GOLDEN SPIKE & GREENWICH MEAN TIME

A to Z challenge 

GOLDEN SPIKE – The ceremonial spike driven that joined the rails of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory.

GREENWICH MEAN TIME – The time as measured on the prime meridian running through Greenwich, England, and used internationally as a standard calculation.

While I don’t have pictures of either, they are crucial railway terms.  I do have these pictures though 😀

A TO Z CHALLENGE ~ F is for FREIGHT TRAIN

A to Z challenge 

The first term I want to share with you is FIREBOX – The fire-chamber of a locomotive-boiler. It is jacketed with a water-chamber to prevent radiation of heat. The fire-box door may also be double and have a circulation of water through the hinges. A partition in the box sometimes divides the fire-space into two parts, and, being full of water, increases the fire surface. But, of course I don’t have a picture of this 🙂

It is near impossible to find #RailArt on a lumber FREIGHT CAR, but it’s almost a given that it will also have cargo cars that do 😀 FREIGHT TRAIN – A FREIGHT train is constructed and used for the carriage of merchandise.

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ E is for ENGINE

A to Z challenge 

I bet you didn’t see this coming, but “E” is for engine 😀

ENGINE ~ A machine which acts both to power and operate.

There is a town north of us called Junction City where I took this picture. Yep, you guessed it, there are A LOT of trains with a junction. The trains run right through the center of town. You literally have to pull over to let trains pass.

There is also a #RailArt term called #EndToEnd that is pretty simple to understand. The graffiti is LITERALLY painted from END TO END.

And while these last two aren’t END TO END they do fit our letter E.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 15 of 2021

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 spring is treating you well and that you had a beautiful Easter holiday. Spring has FINALLY come to our area and we had a very quiet Easter here. I made an abbreviated menu and had a quiet and simple day 😀

While our lows are still in the high 30’s, we are reaching the high 50’s and low 60’s during the day. It’s now time for light layers as you never wear the same thing all day 😀

Hot water, cottage cheese and pineapple

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING – a couple loads of laundry, pack away Easter decorations, garden clean up, attach garden hoses…
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS pedicure and a BUNCH of little stops today to complete my to do list for the day
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I’ve been trying to get a hold of the same medical office to change an appointment time for a week without a call back and I’m getting VERY frustrated so will stop by there tomorrow while I’m in town.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I spent a good deal of the weekend working on the April menu so I can use up the pantry and freezer items before we travel in May.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We’re still watching Stargate SG!, but we’re up to season 7
  • REDBOX We saw WW84 – not my favorite Wonder Woman movie
  • DISNEY+ Watched an episode of the Mighty Ducks which was pretty cute
  • CABLE – Great American Food Truck Race, Easter Baking Challenge, GGG, DDD, Beat Bobby Flay, Spring Baking Challenge, Tournament of Champions, Clarice, Ellen’s Game of Games, Bull, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, 911, 911 Lone Star, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, Young Sheldon, The Unicorn, Last Man Standing, MOM, Call Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS LA, Magnum PI, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, The Resident, Chicago series, Law & Order SVU – I was waiting for the new Law & Order with Elliott’s return last week, but was a bit disappointed 🙁

I just downloaded a bunch of fun summer reads and hope to start one this week.

We did make it to the Tulip Festival last week. The day was beautiful, a bit chilly, but nice none the less. I got a few pictures, but the fields weren’t in as much bloom as we had hoped because of the late winter. 🙁

We bought this one for my mom for mother’s day.

I’ve been doing this for years and it works wonderfully!
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
PAD THAI
GARLIC LEMON CACIO E PEPE with ROASTED ARTICHOKES
PISTACHIO CRUSTED CHICKEN with TOMATO RICOTTA SALAD
CHICKEN BACON RANCH PULL APARTS and COLE SLAW
ENCHILADAS
BUFFALO CHICKEN PULL APARTS and OVEN BAKED FRENCH FRIES
BLT SPINACH ROLL-UPS and PASTA SALAD
DESSERT
CINNAMON PEAR PLATZ

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ D is for Departure

DEPARTURE YARD: Like a staging track to ready locomotives, departure yards assemble cuts of cars to ready them for an outbound train. I have a great picture of a departure yard :somewhere: :sigh: I looked for hours and could not find it, so I was just going to go with the one below where the #RailArt begins with a “D” even though I don’t know what it stands for AND then I looked one more time and found it! 😀

The day I took this picture the dispatch yard was almost empty, but it’s normally FULL of lumber cars, both full and empty as well as a bunch of box cars full of #RailArt.

Another “D” would be for DEPOT. This is a preserved depot in the same small Montana forest town lumber yard that yesterday’s caboose is in.

A TO Z CHALLENGE ~ C is for CABOOSE or CANADIAN

A to Z challenge 

CABOOSE A car which is attached to the rear of a freight train and serves as office and headquarters for the conductor and trainmen while they are in transit. Sometimes called cabin car, way car, hack, shanty, or crummy.

Major railroads have discontinued the use of cabooses, except on some short-run freight and maintenance trains. It has been replaced by the end-of-train device, a portable steel box about the size of a suitcase that’s attached to the back of the train’s last car.

While this first picture doesn’t have any actual #RailArt on it, it is a rare sighting as cabooses are far and few between these days. It has been repainted from its traditional red to this bright white and repurposed as a Library in the Timber Country of Montana.

Once again in the picture below the #RailArt is colorful and I’m really not sure what it spells, but it is a car from the CANADIAN Pacific Railway.

April A to Z CHALLENGE ~ B is for BALLAST

I’m trying to incorporate some railway terms into my A to Z challenge posts. It won’t always be easy to coordinate pictures to the terms, but at least the terms will help with the alphabetical theme.

BALLAST – Coarse gravel or similar material laid to form a bed for roads or railroads.

I really like #RailArt that I can actually read or understand. The #BlackBird or  #Magpie really speaks to me. This was taken in front of a local lumber mill and the color contrast was pretty nice.

The picture below was at a dirt road crossing and even though I can’t actually read it, it reminded me of a “BUBBLE BATH” 😀 The other 2 are just alphabetically pertinant even if I don’t actually know what they mean 😀

ALL ABOARD for the April A to Z CHALLENGE

And so the  A to Z challenge begins. Be sure and check it out. There are so many people joining in with a myriad of themes!

My theme for this year is Rail Art. My recent epiphany that photographing Rail Art for me is like someone who is drawn to storm chasing never held more true than last night as I was trying to decide on my first image and had so many to choose from.

Living in a small lumber town we see the lumber trains crossing through town at least once a day, but usually twice – one in each direction and when we’re lucky 3 or even 4 times. My BIGGEST challenge is being in the right place at the right time 😀

I decided to try and find a train term for each day of the challenge and today was super easy – ALL ABOARD for the A to Z challenge! I even found this great panda bear to be our conductor 😀 The phrase “All aboard!” is said as a warning or last call before departure, especially before a ship or train leaves. I believe he’s channeling the “alien” ghost head of a former conductor from the picture below.

BLOGGING APRIL A to Z CHALLENGE

The A to Z challenge begins tomorrow. Be sure and check it out. There are so many people joining in with a myriad of themes!

My theme for this year is Rail Art. I had a recent epiphany that photographing Rail Art for me is like someone who is drawn to storm chasing. Living in a small lumber town we see the lumber trains crossing through town at least once a day, but usually twice – one in each direction.

What I’d like to be able to do is find a way to see both sides of the train at once. LOL 😀 I try to plan my errands and trips into and around town to purposefully be timed so I’m the first or second car stopped at the crossing so I have the PERFECT view of ALL the cars.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 14 of 2021

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

How is everyone doing this morning? How was your first week of spring? Good morning sweet friends, hope you’ve all had a restful week(end).

Anyone else started a serious spring clean? I’m in that mode now and trying to do donations too and organize. 😀 We have a full week ahead with projects.

The “delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction” more commonly known as “COVID ARM” is a good thing, though an annoying and somewhat painful side effect of the COVID vaccine and is wreaking havoc on my ability to get things done! Especially coupled with the horrendous headache I’ve had since last week!

It scared the heck out of me when it first appeared 7 FULL days after my first vaccination.  It scared me even more when it continued to get worse AND cover a larger area over the next several days, but the Benadryl anti-itch cream is working wonders and I’ve been assured that this really is a “good thing” for my immune system. I can assure you though that the second dose will go into the other arm!

Our weather is supposed to be great (warmer and sunny) for the next couple days before taking another serious dip end of the week (last hurrah for winter I hope), but I will enjoy it while I can. This time last year we already had the garden planted! This year we’re just beginning the outdoor clean up to get ready to do that. We’ll power wash the winter away this week and uncover the garden beds that hubby informed me are FULL of ants. So there is that to deal with too.

Thursday we are planning on going to the Wooden Shoe TULIP festival in a neighboring town. I’m hoping the nice weather lasts at least that long. I’ve never been before, but I think it will be absolutely beautiful.

Hot water, cottage cheese with pineapple and a banana.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a couple loads of laundry, vacuuming, changing out the winter/spring bedding and clothing, power washing the outside, window washing – a true spring cleaning week.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m cleaning out the pantry and freezer for spring cleaning so need very few groceries, just a few staples and I need to pick up my new glasses
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on April’s menu plan and getting organized

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Still working on Stargate SG1 reruns and we watched The Magic of Belle Isle with Morgan Freeman.
  • REDBOX We rented Freaky with Vince Vaughn and News of the World with Tom Hanks – Freaky was a dark comedic horror film and News of the World was pretty good if not predictable though.
  • DISNEY+ I need to finish Wanda Vision, I want to start The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and I finished this season’s Secrets of Sulphur Springs
  • CABLE – Great American Food Truck Race, Easter Baking Challenge, GGG, DDD, Beat Bobby Flay, Spring Baking Challenge, Tournament of Champions, Clarice, Ellen’s Game of Games, Bull, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, 911, 911 Lone Star, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, Young Sheldon, The Unicorn, Last Man Standing, MOM, Call Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS LA, Magnum PI, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, The Resident, Chicago series, Law & Order SVU – I can’t wait for the new Law & Order with Elliott’s return this week.

I’ve downloaded a few books, but just haven’t figured out which one to read first. I’ve been reading some cookbooks and inspirationals.

Last Thursday was pretty stormy, but broke just in time for a gorgeous sunset. I took these pictures just a couple of minutes apart. It’s amazing how much a sky can change that quickly.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
ITALIAN CHICKEN & RICE
CHICKEN VESUVIO
PAD THAI
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
CHICKEN IN WHITE WINE HERB SAUCE
BEER BRAISED CHICKEN
HAM STEAKS, BRAISED CARROTS & SHEET PAN MAC & CHEESE
DESSERT
BLUEBERRY LEMON LIME CURD MUFFINS

  • SWEET & SPICY ORANGE CHILE CHICKEN
  • MARINATED APRICOT PORK CHOPS with ROASTED VEGGIES & APPLES
  • ORANGE CHILE CHICKEN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 13 of 2021

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

I hope you are all having a great month and starting to see signs of spring wherever you are.  Winter is hanging on here and I’m not trusting that spring is here yet. I’m headed out early so will get this posted quickly.

Off and on rain this week with highs in the low 50’s and low’s in the high 30’s. I have on some comfy levis and a favorite soft and comfy hoodie.

Gerber Carrot Apple Pineapple squeezable and hot water

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING A couple loads of laundry and some vacuuming to do.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll get these done early this morning for the week. We’re still on a “PAUSE” here so staying home a lot still.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS We’re STILL trying to get some information on questions regarding the sale of the in-laws house and dealing with that nightmare. SIL is being less than straight forward with answers 🙁
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m waiting on a couple new cookbooks I ordered that should be here this week and then I’ll dive in 😀

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Still working on Stargate SG1 reruns
  • PRIME I need to check, someone said we can get WW84 here
  • DISNEY+ I need to finish Wanda Vision, I want to start The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Secrets of Sulphur Springs
  • CABLE – Great American Food Truck Race, Easter Baking Challenge, GGG, DDD, Beat Bobby Flay, Spring Baking Challenge, Tournament of Champions, Clarice, Ellen’s Game of Games, Bull, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, 911, 911 Lone Star, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, Young Sheldon, The Unicorn, Last Man Standing, MOM, Call Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS LA, Magnum PI, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, The Resident, Chicago series, Law & Order SVU – I can’t wait for the new Law & Order with Elliott’s return.

I have some new devotionals from Mary & Martha that I will be working with this week.

It was a cold, rainy, windy, cloudy and lazy weekend here. Saturday was a day of off and on storms with multiple power outages. The only picture I got was of our domino game.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
HAMBURGER STROGANOFF SKILLET
PORK CHOPS with BAKED APPLES and FARMHOUSE BEER BREAD
ORANGE CHILE CHICKEN & RICE
BEER BRAISED CHICKEN
PORK with APPLE CREAM SAUCE and CREAMY MASHED POTATOES
ITALIAN CHICKEN & RICE
PAN FRIED PORK STEAKS & POTATOES
DESSERT
PISTACHIO BRITTLE or CHOCOLATE CHIP SCONES

  • SMASHED SUNCHOKES with TARRAGON BUTTER
  • PUB STYLE SHEPHERD’S PIE
  • SMOTHERED PORK CHOPS
  • BEEF YAKISOBA
  • CRISPY POTATO BALLS
  • RANCH PORK CHOP SHEET PAN SUPPER

  • GRANDMA WARE’S SKILLET CORNBREAD
  • EVERYTHING BAGEL DUTCH BABY
  • NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S CHICKEN PARMESAN
  • PAN SEARED CHICKEN with WILTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
  • TOMATO BEEF & NOODLES
  • PAN SEARED CHICKEN with RUSTIC TOMATO GRAVY & FLUFFY BUTTERED MASHED POTATOES