Category: MEMES & LINK PARTIES

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

It’s official- no more delays.  We’ll be leaving here finally in 10 days.  I cannot tell you how relieved we are that this is finally happening, how frustrated that everything is all packed and we’re twiddling our thumbs and how anxious and excited we are to be on the other end working on the house and unpacking.  It will be like Christmas unpacking!

WEATHER OUTSIDE
WARM DAYS AND COOL EVENINGS are back – IT’S OFFICIAL, it’s an Indian summer.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Truck to mechanic – power steering blew this past week.  Better here than on the road though.
  • Rotate the tires on the truck.
  • Power wash the power steering fluid from the concrete driveway.
  • Fix the ice maker.
  • Laundry.

CURRENTLY READING – I have been loading my kindle with extra titles for the trip

TELEVISION / DVR
We’ve weeded out a few of the new shows that just aren’t our cup of tea and trying to stay on top f those on the DVR so we’re up to date when we leave and only miss a few on the road.

  • BIG BANG
  • LIFE IN PIECES
  • CASTLE
  • HAVEN
  • BLUE BLOODS
  • GRIMM
  • LAW & ORDER SVU 
  • NCIS
  • NCIS LA
  • NCIS NEW OELEANS
  • SCORPION
  • THE PLAYER??
  • THE BLINDSPOT
  • QUANTICO
  • GRANDFATHERED
  • GRIDER??
  • THE STRAIN
  • Z NATION
  • SCANDAL 
  • CSY CYBER

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
EGGS in the CLOUDS
BACON & EGGS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
LEFTOVERS
SANDWICHES
DINNER
C.O.R.N.
CHICKEN & NOODLES
DESSERT

ON MY MIND

NOTE, CORRECTION & EDIT:  LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE ABOUT ALL PEOPLE.  THANK YOU TO ALL THE WONDERFUL SAHM AND PARENTS WHO ALREADY FEEL AND ACT THIS WAY!

We have a cultural decay problem in this country. Life as we once knew it will NEVER be again.  We have a lack of parenting problem in this country.  As parents our jobs are to raise children into hard working, contributing members of society and functioning adults first and to be their friend second. Teaching children to be independent, hard working, respectful, happy and gracious is the best thing you can do for them, you and for ALL he people the will encounter in the future.  Teaching them about the ups AND the downs of life is realistic.

There is an apathy, a lack of respect, a lack of accountability, a lack of responsibility, a lack of courtesy…  A silver spoon entitlement complex is taking over many people.  Political correctness has become as insane concept trying to make life fair.  WAKE UP PEOPLE! Life ISN’T fair and NO ONE every said it would be. Doing the best you can each and everyday is all you can really control.

Watching the news is not always just hearing the factual events as it once was.  Commentary and social media have taken over – everyone wants to be the first to break the “NEWS” whether it is complete or correct.  Fact checking seems to be a thing of the past in many cases. Spin doctors manipulate news every day.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY 

  • A clean dog LOL
  • Uncluttered table tops
  • A happy, purring kitty in my lap

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Our community suffered a real tragedy on October 1st.  No one would have expected such a dark mass shooting in our little small American rural town. 

A local welder, Justin Troxel, also a graduate of UCC wanted to make a donation to the relief fund for the victim’s families to help offset their costs.  He intended to make 50 signs, sell them and be able to donate $500. Justin Troxel has done so much more though, he has united a community in mourning and has become an unsung hero as the community has grasped his signs and with the idea he spearheaded a multitude of people have found a way to help him help others.  They have shown up to volunteer with his cause.  Last I heard they have raised over $90,000.00.  They were hoping for over $100,000.00 by the end of the weekend, but I haven’t yet heard the final count.

These signs, which many of us are personalizing, have been sent all over the country.  Ours will go with us when we leave.

INSPIRATION

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

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We are warming up this week again to temperatures I thought were in our rear view mirror and I DON’T like it one bit! At least the evenings after the sun sets are really cool!

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Rotate Tires on the Truck
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Drop off dry Cleaning
  • Update Computers and Cyber Clean

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Still trying some of the new shows this week as well as some of the old favorites. As always though we’ll DVR them.  We just don’t have as much leisure to watch them with the move about to happen so we’ll have to .

  • BIG BANG
  • LIFE IN PIECES
  • CASTLE
  • LAW & ORDER SVU 
  • NCIS
  • NCIS LA
  • NCIS NEW OELEANS
  • SCORPION
  • THE PLAYER
  • THE BLINDSPOT
  • QUANTICO
  • THE STRAIN
  • Z NATION
  • SCANDAL 
  • CSY CYBER


MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
Y.O.Y.O.
CHICKEN PICATTA & SALAD
C.O.R.N.
??
TUNA CASSERILE
STEAK & BAKERS
CHILE & CORNBREAD
DESSERT






ON MY MIND
As you all know we will be leaving here soon to rehab my grandparent’s house in Texas and on Thursday I was pretty happy thinking about that as I silently celebrated grams 100th birthday in my mind with wonderful memories of her and ALL she taught me in life and wishing I was already in her house doing my projects and cooking her recipes…  Then the bottom fell out of our local world as my neighbor stopped us on our way out of the driveway and said “DON’T GO TO TOWN THERE’S A SHOOTING AT THE COLLEGE”.  I have to admit at first I was dazed and thinking WTH? HERE? WHAT? REALLY?  You see we’re a sleepy little community, not a big city, not a hub of political activity, just small rural town America. This has been a horrific week here in our community.

article

I whole heartily agree with this sheriff’s decision to ignore the coward, HE DOES NOT DESERVE RECOGNITION – WE DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HIS NAME or anything about him-that is for the authorities and their investigation. If you need names, learn the names of the victims, the heroes like Chris Mintz and first responders that dealt with the aftermath. These are the important people in this tragedy. The fact that the shooter committed suicide means he was a chicken to me.

As horrific as this tragedy has been to our community, it is heart warming to see the spark it has brought to  the community response to help others. Banks, have set up generous funds and matching donation programs, Coffee houses are giving free coffee, even the pubs are offering free pints for giving a pint of blood, neighbors setting up meal plan programs for victims and their families, pay it forwards that go ALL day in fast food lines…  There must have been several hundred people in the blood bank line at any given time before they finally had to start turning people away due to a lack of storage facilities, local businesses setting up victim funds… Here is a link to ways you can help. Healing will take time, time that can and should be clad in human compassion and warm hearts to help others.

I PRAY that these attitudes become long term and daily reminders that we are all in this life together. On the flip side I am sickened by the politicians and legislators that are trying to use this as a soapbox for gun control and personal beliefs. The following picture kind of says it all:

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

  • SEEING THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER & HELP OTHERS DURING A TIME OF NEED
  • My cat curling up to cuddle with me in the morning
  • Finishing projects

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

Sady catching the last possible afternoon rays of sunshine.

INSPIRATION

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

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

Looks like we have a definitive move date (FINALLY!) Unfortunately it leaves me twiddling my thumbs for a few extra weeks so I will be catching up on my reading!

WEATHER OUTSIDE
Fortunately the evenings have been super cool making for wonderful sleeping and the days are starting to cool a bit too.  By the time we leave it’ll be perfect LOL

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • Whiskey to the groomer
  • Groceries
  • Cleaning 
  • Laundry

CURRENTLY READING 

  • Hurricane Force byJana DeLeon
  • The Secret Life of Wishful Thinking by Lindy DeKoven
  • Tea and Comfort by Andrea Hurst
  • The Sweetness of Honey by Alison Kent

TELEVISION / DVR
The jury is still out on some of the new shows, but some of the old favorites are great.

  • Minority Report
  • Big Bang Theory
  • Life in Pieces?
  • NCIS
  • NCIS NOLO
  • Blue Bloods
  • Criminal Minds
  • Law & Order SVU
  • Castle

HOUSE PROJECTS
Can’t wait to get this show on the road so I can begin sharing all the updates we will be doing on the new house.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
C.O.R.N.
MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
DESSERT






THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY 

  • An extra month with my favorite munchkins
  • Plans that come together
  • A good night’s sleep

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
Sady hanging out with dad during football.

INSPIRATION

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

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I’ve been in a holding pattern for so long now with our impending move next week in 2 weeks (I hope – it’s been postponed twice so far for various reasons) that I feel like I’m just going through the motions each day and there is no real “Homemaking” going on right now.  So this week while we wait to leave next Monday (please cross your fingers and toes for us) I’m making a detailed list of what needs to be done when we get there.

We’re buying my grandparents old place (40 years old) which has been sitting vacant for almost a year and hasn’t had any real improvements in the 20+ years before that.  So, we know it’s a serious fixer and definitely needs a kitchen update, but we love remodeling and projects and our aim is to change the dated kitchen into a farmhouse style, but also make it a 21st century kitchen.

Oh, and did I mention we’re doing this from across the country?  Hubby has never even seen the house and I haven’t been there in many years since my cousin was living there.  We are also transporting 3 animals with a multi stop move gathering the things from storage in 2 different states from the last 6 years along the way?

WEATHER OUTSIDE
The weather was warm over the weekend again, but cooling back down into some more fall like temperatures as the week moves on.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
A little of this and a little of that, but nothing horribly specific.

CURRENTLY READING
I’ve been loading up my kindle app with lots of books for the trip.  Right now I’m finishing up the Barbara Freethy Series – The Callaways – I’m on books 8 and 9.

I’m also reading Fatal Frenzy by Marie Force.

TELEVISION / DVR
A good deal of the new shows begin this week as well as some of the old favorites. As always though we’ll DVR them.  We just don’t have as much leisure to watch them with the move about to happen so we’ll have to .

  • BIG BANG
  • CASTLE
  • LAW & ORDER SVU 
  • NCIS
  • NCIS LA
  • NCIS NEW OELEANS
  • SCORPION
  • THE PLAYER
  • THE BLINDSPOT
  • QUANTICO
  • SCANDAL

CRAFTS, PROJECTS & HOUSE PROJECTS
We will probably need to move a few pieces of furniture for my aunt and uncle when we get there, but after that we’ll spend the first 2 days doing SERIOUS cleaning.  I love my cousin, but she was not a “homemaker” per se and didn’t tend to notice the dust and such.  On one of these days we’re hoping to get the cable and internet hooked up.  We have also set a STOP time for each day of 6PM.  On one of our prior moves we didn’t do this and we were just SOOOO exhausted all the time that we thought it was for our sake of sanity that we begin doing this.

On the 3rd day we plan to do the shopping.  The lists are about 95% made.  I even have the store, addresses and mapquest ready to make the day go smoother.  Pizza and fast food will be fine for the first couple days, but after that we have to get some real food in the house as well as buy the paint for the next project.

We know the house needs paint from top to bottom, ALL flooring and new appliances, but we’re going to start with the easy (but hubby’s least favorite) part, painting.

Day 4 we plan to paint the bedroom, master bath and walk in closet.  We’re going to go with a bright white for the ceilings and and more of an eggshell for the walls.  We prefer to add color with things other than the paint so it easily changed if we so choose. There are a couple of door changes going to happen in this room as well as closet organization, but I’ll wait to show you that later.

Day 5 we plan to paint the living room and dining room area, but it may take 2 days with the cathedral ceilings and size so we’ll add day 6 in here also. Right now the dining room is separate from the kitchen which is small with limited storage, but when we get done the kitchen dining will be a large open air farmhouse like all in one.  The kitchen dining is also just off the living room so when we are done our aim is a to have a grand room effect for a more cozy, homey family style room.  The old dining room is where we will start with adding the new cabinets so when we unpack we have a place to put things.  I also have some serious plans for redoing the laundry, adding a laundry chute from the master bedroom area and updating the pantry.

Day 7 the trucks are supposed to arrive.  We will have already cleaned the spare rooms and our plan is to put the boxes in each of these rooms so we aren’t living in a sea of boxes ALL the time. We hired guys to empty the trucks and that will certainly make life a lot simpler.

Once the master bedroom and living room are done, the rest will seem much simpler.  Having a place to relax at the end of the day, whether it is watching football in the living room or going to sleep at the end of a long hard day makes any remodel so much easier. Stay tuned for pictures and the tweaks to make this place our own, functional, homey and part of the 21st century.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
SALISBURY STEAK & MASHED POTATOES & ASPARAGUS
C.O.R.N.
CHICKEN PICATTA & GARLIC PASTA with HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE
STUFFED CHEDDAR APPLE CHICKEN and SALAD
TOMATO SPINACH SOUP & GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES
DESSERT


SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

  • Whiskey (my dog) sleeping curled up around my feet
  • Cool Autumn breezes
  • Watching migrating geese

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

My favorite birthday gift started with 4th of July pictures.  
I can’t believe they all kept it a secret for so long! Thank you!

INSPIRATION
As we start this move, I know there are going to be VERY stressful times during the next 10 days while we do a multi stop cross country move.  But, I am REALLY trying to remember that we are going to a good place for all the right reasons and we ARE going to VERY happy after the move part is ALL over.

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

BAKING PARTNERS – APRICOT CHERRY GALETTE

OUR Baking partner’s challenge this month is a Galette, an open pie pastry. It was suggested by Suja of Kitchen Corner try it.  Galettes make a wonderful rustic fall fruit dessert.

APRICOT CHERRY GALETTE

1 cup All purpose flour
1/2 cup Cake Flour
1/2 cup Chilled Unsalted Butter, chopped
2 tablespoons Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
4 tablespoons Ice water
3 apricots, sliced
1 cup cherries, pitted
Juice of 1 Lemon
4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • In a bowl mix flour, salt and sugar. 
  • Add butter pieces to the flour. Using a pastry blender cut in through the flour, rapidly till the mixture becomes coarse. The flour will look like large flakes and the butter in the size of peas. If you are using a food processor, first pulse the flour, sugar and butter. Then add the butter and pulse for 7- 8 times till the dough attains the above mentioned texture.
  • Slowly add ice cold water, 2 tablespoons at a time and mix until the dough starts coming together, making sure that the dough masses together roughly but the butter pieces remain about the same size.
  • Transfer this onto a lightly floured work surface.
  • Flatten into a rectangle rapidly with heel of your palm. 
  • Rapidly pat and smooth the top. 
  • Lift the dough off work surface using a pastry sheet. 
  • Flip the bottom of the rectangle to the middle and the top down to cover it like an envelope.
  • Tuck the two sides towards the bottom. 
  • Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for half an hour to relax the gluten.

  • Meanwhile make the filling. 
  • Toss together the apricots and cherries.
  • Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, vanilla and lemon juice.
  • Toss fruit with lemon juice mixture. Set Aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
  • Remove dough from the fridge and place on a lightly floured surface. 
  • Roll into 1/8 inch thick circles. You can use a plate to cut into the desired size. Fold the disk into half and gently transfer into the baking sheet. Unfold it and sprinkle a mixture of flour and sugar. You will need around two tablespoons. 
  • Arrange the fruit mixture in a single layer in the center of the disc leaving 3 inches border. 
  • Fold the edge up over the filling forming loose pleats. Gently press the pleats so that it stick together. 
  • Sprinkle with coarse sugar. 
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the pastry is golden brown. 
  • Remove from the oven and allow it to cool down a bit in the pan and then transfer to a wire rack.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.
First and foremost for me this week is a subject very close to my heart AND my life. 
 Be sure and see my AWARENESS post here.

We have a bit of a delay in our move so I’m all packed and am waiting patiently, NOT!  We are trying to stay busy, but that’s not easy with everything packed.  Seems like a vicious circle to me.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
A bit cooler today with the promise of rain that we desperately need before the week is out.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • A couple physical therapy appointments for hubby
  • Laundry 
  • Cleaning
  • Paperwork

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR
Next week will be the BIG reveal week for the new shows, so this week we’re still trying to clean out the DVR from all the stacked up summer shows.

HOME PROJECTS
After the move and we get settled one of my first projects will be making a garden area something like this:

KITCHEN WISHES
I LOVE enamelware and would love both sizes of these new pans from Pioneer Woman’s new line at Walmart:

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
OUT for my birthday
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES  FROM LAST WEEK

ON MY MIND
We had an encounter with yet another VERY RUDE VA employee this past week.  I have to wonder if they are instructed to make things more difficult than necessary in order to get people to just go away!  It took us over a month of our time and effort to get a prescription situation corrected, a situation that never should have transpired to begin with. Then in the mail came a new bottle of the same damn drug!  We went back to get it corrected AGAIN! and the male nurse was 100% useless and antagonistic.  Funny thing is hubby specifically told him I was there as his advocate and because I had all the dates and information and the man refused!!!! to deal with me even with hubby standing right there telling him differently. Ironically he called me adversarial, which he did NOT see from me. Really? He thought I was being adversarial because I was giving him factual information to correct an error (AGAIN)?  He should know that adversarial would include a formal complaint against him for his attitude and disrespect of a veteran and we would win because I keep a calendar of dates and interactions regarding ALL VA interactions for exactly this reason.  I am not one to allow someone o jut say, oh well, that’s just how it is.  We proceeded to the pharmacy and were able to correct part of the problem at least with a VERY nice gentleman who actually listened and understood the chain of events.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

  • BEING HEALTHY
  • SUCCESSFUL RECIPE EXPERIMENTS
  • HEARING HAPPY STORIES IN THE NEWS

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

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

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

I was having a productive week, and then WHAM! I got hit by the flu.  For once in my life and because it hit so hard and fast that I didn’t have a choice I napped and did virtually nothing for 3 days.  Fortunately dinner was already in the slow cooker on the worst day.  Hope you had a better week!

WEATHER OUTSIDE
It’s been gorgeous this past week, but now we’re inching back up into the 80’s and 90’s, look’s like we may be heading to an Indian Summer with warm days and cool evenings.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

  • 2 Physical therapy appointments for hubby
  • cleaning
  • laundry

CURRENTLY READING

TELEVISION / DVR

  • Football starts this week!
  • Cedar Cove
  • A few movies we have on the DVR

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Everything is on hold until next month after the move.

HOME PROJECTS
Can’t wait to get there and have a long list for this category.  We planned this move well though.  We will have an entire week to clean and paint the new place before the trucks get there which will hopefully make unpacking go much more smoothly.
 
KITCHEN WISHES 

USA Pans Pullman Loaf Pan with Cover, Aluminized Steel with Americoat, 9 x 4 x 4 Inches
Prepara Herb Savor Pods, Set of 3
Kuhn Rikon W1184 Square PushPan, 9-Inch Square
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
BREAKFAST
YOGURT & FRUIT
SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
YOGURT & FRUIT
MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
LUNCH
FRUIT & CHEESE
SOUP & CRACKERS
SANDWICH
OUT
MEAT & CHEESE
??
??
DINNER
EXPERIMENT NIGHT
Chicken & Shrimp Paella
C.O.R.N.
DESSERT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES  FROM LAST WEEK

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
SHHHH, don’t tell hubby, but I cut out a few more this week.

  • Creole Coleslaw
  • Slow Cooked BBQ Beef Ribs 
  • Banana Walnut Buttermilk Muffins
  • Cornmeal Souffle
  • Sour Cream Pound Cake
  • John’s Breakfast Bowl
  • Ernestine’s Company Meal

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

  • By all accounts, FISH OIL is the solution to many things not the least of which is preventing a middle aged spread by helping to increase your metabolism  and prevent muscle mass shrinkage as you age. Eating tuna and/or salmon several times a week or a fish supplement with both EPA and DHA daily.

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

  • Microwaving lemons, limes and oranges 10-15 seconds before squeezing yields more juice.
  • Always bring your eggs to room temperature before baking.  They cream with the butter better that way.
  • Always keep your kitchen knives sharp.  They are of more use and actually safer tat way.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
This poor guy startled me as I almost stepped on him barefooted, but then realized he must have been a victim of the lawnmower.

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

  • Plans that come together the way they are supposed to 
  • Crisp evenings 
  • Leaves beginning to change colors
  • Warm Meals
  • Smiling Faces

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

    HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

    We’re moving in a few weeks so I’m in this horrible LIMBO mode around here. We’re going to have a quiet week before the chaos ensues and I plan to get a lot of reading done as well as try a few new recipes and dessert.  Though, I am really prepared for this move I think and it may not be as bad as we originally thought.  I spent yesterday even making up the individual morning and night pet food bags and separated them into different boxes for the legs of the trip.  I’m also using up EVERYTHING I can in the pantry, fridge and freezer which has made for interesting menu planning.  I’m planning on there NOT be enough left to worry about.  I’ve even got the basic grocery list made for the other end!

    WEATHER OUTSIDE
    Summer is coming to a close here as the kids go back to school and the weather is finally cooling down a bit. We’re supposed to be in the mid 70’s ALL week YAY!  We’re even supposed to get some MUCH needed rain.

    TO DO FOR THE WEEK

    • A couple of follow up appointments to hubby’s surgeries.
    • Transferring medical and VA records
    • Breaking down a storage unit and wrapping it for the move.

    CURRENTLY READING
    I’m working on loading up the kindle for the trip with a few extra books.

    TELEVISION / DVR
    Trying to finish up the shows on the DVR before the new season begins.  We’re going to get a late start with the new season with the move, but we’ll adapt – it’s just TV.

    • Rookie Blue
    • Hell On Wheels
    • The Strain
    • Dark Matter
    • Devious Maids
    • The Last Ship
    • Falling Skies

    HOUSE PROJECTS ON THE BLOCK
    I’m doing quite a few draw ups for the renovation work on the new house, but not going too horribly in depth until we actually get there.

    KITCHEN WISHES
    My birthday is coming up and here are a few of the things on my wish list.

    MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
    MONDAY
    TUESDAY
    WEDNESDAY
    THURSDAY
    FRIDAY
    SATURDAY
    SUNDAY
    BREAKFAST
    YOGURT & FRUIT
    SCRAMBLED EGGS & CHEESE
    FRUIT SMOOTHIE
    YOGURT & FRUIT
    MAPLE OATMEAL & RAISINS
    CORNED BEEF HASH and OVER MEDIUM EGGS & TOAST
    LUNCH
    FRUIT & CHEESE
    SOUP & CRACKERS
    SANDWICH
    OUT
    MEAT & CHEESE
    ??
    DINNER
    EXPERIMENT NIGHT
    C.O.R.N.
    MALIBU CHICKEN & VEGGIES
    DESSERT





    HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

    SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

    HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIPS

    • Are you going to be painting soon?  We are late next month – THE ENTIRE house from floor to ceiling.  With the rainy cold weather moving in we may not be able to open the windows.  One of the BIG tips I’ve learned over the years is to set bowls of vinegar all around.  The vinegar will literally absorb the paint fumes overnight!
    • A dish towel under your cutting board will do 2 things: 1) it will keep it from sliding around too much and 2) it will catch any drips when slicing juicy food.
    • When searing meat DO NOT OVERCROWD your pan.  The meat needs room on all sides to get an even sear!
    • When bananas are starting to get too ripe, peel and freeze them for smoothies or breads. For smoothies you can add them to the blender frozen and get a colder drink that’s extra smooth.  For breads, just let them thaw 20-30 minutes.
    • Do you like your cookies moist and chewy?  Store an apple wedge in with the cookies to keep them from drying out.

    THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

    • Getting closer to our final move and gathering all the parts of our life into 1 place.
    • Summer, my least favorite season is drawing closer and closer to a close and bringing in my favorite season, Autumn.

    FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
    Saturday night’s SUPER Moon was made so much better by the colorful play of the clouds that were moving in for our rainstorm.

    SUPER MOON RISING around 9PM
    SUPER MOON ON HIGH around midnight

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

    HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

    I had a busy week and got quite a bit done, but I never seem to have enough hours to get it ALL done! I hope you had a great weekend and are ready for a great new week.

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

    WEATHER OUTSIDE
    It’s still in the mid 90’s, but that horrible smoke is back in the air making life, or at least breathing difficult.  I AM SO READY for fall!

    TO DO FOR THE WEEK

    • Grocery Shopping
    • Physical Therapy appointments 
    • Cleaning
    • Laundry
    • Paperwork

    CURRENTLY READING

    TELEVISION / DVR

    • Astronaut Wives Club 
    • Hell On Wheels
    • Complications
    • The Strain
    • Proof
    • Dark Matter
    • Devious Maids
    • The Last Ship
    • Falling Skies
    • Under the Dome
    • Rookie Blue
    BREAKFAST
    DINNER
    DESSERT
    MONDAY
    Cereal & Fruit
    Y.O.Y.O. / C.O.R.N.
    TUESDAY
    Bagel & cream cheese
    EXPERIMENT NIGHT
    WEDNESDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    Hobo Chicken Casserole
    THURSDAY
    Scrambled Eggs with cheese
    FRIDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    Ham & Cheese French Toast
    SATURDAY
    Biscuits & Gravy
    Veggie Burgers and Baked Beans
    SUNDAY
    Ham & Cheese Omelets
    Pork & Green Chile Verde Stew with Bacon Scones

    SUCCESSFUL RECIPES  FROM LAST WEEK

    RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
    A few more from the “I promised myself NO MORE recipes until after the BIG move, but couldn’t resist these” pile (I promise the last before we move):

    • Southern Chicken Salad
    • Crab and Corn Cakes with Lime Sour Cream
    • Tomato Jam
    • Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes
    • Mudslide Cupcakes
    • Pina Colada Cupcakes
    • Sweet Tea Vinaigrette
    • Pumpkin Crumb Cake
    • Bacon Caramel Rolls
    • Gingerbread Cookies
    • Gingerbread Cinnamon Buns
    • Caramel Hummingbird Cake
    • Butterscotch Marble Cake
    • Apple Cake with Butterscotch Frosting
    • Gooey Cinnamon Tugs
    • Lemon Foldover Coffee Cake
    • Apple Pull Apart Loaf
    • Roasted Drumsticks with Chipolte Raisin Sauce
    • Chocolate Glazed Creamy Pumpkin Pie

    HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

    • Don’t cut open meat to check doneness.  Use an instant read thermometer instead.  That way you don’t lose all the juice.
    • ALWAYS use a paper towel to pat dry meat before adding to oil to get a better searing.
    • You can bake bacon at 400° on a cookie sheet to get a nice crisp doneness without the hassle of multiple batches in a skillet.

    CRAFTS/PROJECTS
    I can’t wait for autumn so I can make one of these:

    My nephew recently made this pantry for their house and I love it so will do a version of it for our new kitchen.  It’s made with black gas pipe which makes it virtually indestructible.

    And I AM GOING TO FIND a way to do this in my new kitchen!

    THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

    • Time to sit and read undisturbed
    • Finished Projects
    • Looking forward to adventures.

    FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

    HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

    With the BIG move a few weeks away, I’m at that point of trying to finish up the packing for the moving truck. There are always the little things that need a corner of a tote or box and then the things you really need to use right up to the last minute, but don’t really want to take with you so are trying to gauge the use so you don’t need to buy a fresh bottle or pack an almost empty one.  I’m trying to make menus to use what’s still in the pantry and freezer without doing a lot of shopping except for fruits and veggies.

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

    WEATHER OUTSIDE
    It’s heating up again with some higher humidity so I am trying to get all outside activities done first thing in the morning or last thing at night.

    TO DO FOR THE WEEK

    • Finish inventory and ty-wrapping totes closed for the move early in the mornings
    • A couple of appointments for hubby
    • Clean BBQ and pack
    • Put together “1st Week” tote – it will have clean sheets, towels, kitchen towels and sleeping clothes so we don’t have to unpack anything immediately which is good since the trucks (from 2 different places) aren’t going to arrive until a week after we do.
    • Put together “1st Week” suitcase of clothes for each of us.

    CURRENTLY READING

    TELEVISION / DVR
    Since we’ll be moving in 3 weeks, I’m really trying to get EVERYTHING off the DVR that I had saved to see.  In addition to those old shows we’ll try and work in the normal summer shows that are quickly coming to season finales.

    • Astronaut Wives Club 
    • Hell On Wheels
    • Complications
    • The Strain
    • Proof
    • Dark Matter
    • Devious Maids
    • The Last Ship
    • Falling Skies
    • Under the Dome
    • Rookie Blue
    BREAKFAST
    DINNER
    DESSERT
    MONDAY
    Cereal & Fruit
    Y.O.Y.O. / C.O.R.N.
    TUESDAY
    Bagel & cream cheese
    OUT for our ANNIVERSARY
    WEDNESDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    Fiesta Chicken Lasagna
    THURSDAY
    Scrambled Eggs with cheese & Toast
    Ham & Cheese French Toast
    FRIDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    		 Beef & Potato Hand Pies
    SATURDAY
    Biscuits & Gravy
    		 Hobo Chicken Casserole
    HUMMINGBIRD CAKE
    SUNDAY
    Ham & Cheese Omelets
    Sesame Orange Roast Chicken

    LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

    RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
    A few more recipes from the “I promised myself NO MORE recipes until after the BIG move, but couldn’t resist these” file:

    • Tomato and Peach Salad
    • Braised Chicken Thighs with savory marinated peaches
    • Caramel Apple Cookies
    • Maple Sugar Cookie
    • Pumpkin Banana Bread
    • Pull apart Pumpkin Loaf
    • Salted Caramel Cheesecake
    • Apple Carrot Cake Muffins
    • Maple Bacon Cheesecake Bites
    • Cherry Swirl Brownies
    • Pumpkin Raisin Doodles
    • Chicken in Sweet Zesty Raisin Sauce
    • Coconut Lime Curd Bars

    HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

    • To lighten up a homemade creamy dressing you can substitute yogurt for mayonnaise or use a half and half combination.  It’s still creamy, but much lighter and more pourable.
    • Freeze thinly sliced green onions in air tight containers to use in scrambled eggs or salads.
    • When making spaghetti, cook your pasta for less than al dente, drain and add to sauce to finish cooking.  You end up with more flavor in the pasta.

    THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

    • Being married to my best friend.
    • ORGANIZATION!
    • Looking forward to a more settled lifestyle.

    FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

    from a recent car show

    My inspiration for 30 years has been my best friend and husband.  I’m still IN love with you and my love grows stronger each and every day.  Thank you for your undying love through this roller coaster we call life.  The ride keeps getting more exciting each and every year.  You have proven in sickness and health more times than anyone should have to.

    HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

    Seems like summer is passing by pretty quickly.  We’ve been really busy with multiple projects and now we’re finishing up some medical appointments and packing before our move.

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

    WEATHER OUTSIDE
    It was supposed to be several degrees cooler today, the day I have to work in the steamy hot storage area, but evidently that weather pattern has stalled until later in the week, but I need to get this done now in preparation for the BIG move.

    TO DO FOR THE WEEK
    Monday – STORAGE! Prep and organize for the BIG move
    Tuesday – not sure yet – it is so rare to get a free day 😀
    Wednesday – Hubby Physical Therapy & grocery shopping
    Thursday – Hubby Eye surgery
    Friday – Post Op appt.
    Saturday – Blackberry Festival (if hubby is up to it)
    Sunday – D.W.Y.W. day (Do What You Want day)

    CURRENTLY READING

    TELEVISION / DVR

    • Astronaut Wives Club 
    • Hell On Wheels
    • Complications
    • The Strain
    • Proof
    • Dark Matter
    • Devious Maids
    • The Last Ship
    • Falling Skies
    • Under the Dome
    • Rookie Blue
    BREAKFAST
    DINNER
    DESSERT
    MONDAY
    Cereal & Fruit
    Y.O.Y.O. / C.O.R.N.
    TUESDAY
    Bagel & cream cheese
    EXPERIMENT NIGHT
    WEDNESDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    THURSDAY
    Scrambled Eggs with Toast
    FRIDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    SATURDAY
    something Peach
    SUNDAY

    SUCCESSFUL RECIPES  FROM LAST WEEK

    RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
    I promised myself NO MORE recipes until after the BIG move, but couldn’t resist these:

    • Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cobbler
    • Bananas Foster Bake
    • Blackberry Apricot Slump
    • Pear Cheese Danish Slab
    • Pumpkin Pan Pie
    • Ginger Cookies
    • Sweet Raisin Tamales
    • Pluot upside-down cake
    • Bacon Buttermilk Scones
    • Salted Caramel Pie
    • Summer Corn Chowder
    • Oven Roasted Tomatoes
    • Mandarin Sunburst Salad
    • Tandoori Chicken
    • Marinated Skirt Steak
    • Skirt Steak Pinwheels

    • You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
    • You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
    • You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
    • You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
    • You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
    • You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.
    • You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”
     ~  Abraham Lincoln

    THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

    • Fall approaching – it’s my favorite season
    • Completed Projects
    • Sweet Pineapple
    • Cool breezes

    FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

    INSPIRATION

    HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY

    So, I missed doing Happy Homemaker Monday and Menu Plan Monday last week and then the week felt like it was only 2 days long just flying right by me.  We were at a destination wedding the weekend of the 24th for my brother and got home late the 26th and by the time I picked up the dogs from the kennel, drove home, unpacked and did the laundry I was beat. That 72 hours seemed to take the whole week.

    The wedding weekend started out iffy with no water at the Bed and Breakfast on Friday night and then ran out again on Saturday morning while I still had soap in my hair (but that’s a story for another post).  We ended up with water in time to get showered after the BIG 7 course breakfast that I could not really enjoy because I had soap in my hair and fortunately the rest of the weekend was fairly drama free, but that is for an upcoming post I’m working on.  I’m getting caught up again on everything around the house and blog just in time to start the final packing for the BIG multi-layered move.  That too will be an upcoming future post with lots of before and after pictures.

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

    WEATHER OUTSIDE
    Last week was SUPER hot with record breaking temperatures and compromised respiratory health from the smoke of all the fires in and around the area.  Yesterday it rained and that helped cool things down a lot though it didn’t do much for the smoke lingering in the air. LOL while I loved the cooler temperatures, I hate wet smoke smell.

    TO DO FOR THE WEEK

    • Physical therapy twice for hubby
    • Paperwork
    • Cleaning
    • Packing

    CURRENTLY READING
    I’ve been slacking a little on reading lately. I’m hoping to get some done this weekend while we are away.

    TELEVISION / DVR

    • Astronaut Wives Club 
    • Hell On Wheels
    • Complications
    • The Strain
    • Proof
    • Dark Matter
    • Devious Maids
    • The Last Ship
    • Falling Skies
    • Under the Dome
    • Rookie Blue

    CRAFTS & PROJECTS
    I finished my Christmas Cards!  I’m so impressed with myself.  Unfortunately I packed them all up for the move before I remembered to take a picture. But here’s a picture of halfway done.  I even got labels for the new address made and pasted into each one and the return address labels are on the envelopes.

    MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
    BREAKFAST
    DINNER
    DESSERT
    MONDAY
    Cereal & Fruit
    Y.O.Y.O. / C.O.R.N.

    TUESDAY
    Bagel & cream cheese
    Ground Beef Reuben Melts

    WEDNESDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    Spinach Salad with warm Bacon Dressing



    THURSDAY
    Scrambled Eggs with cheese & Toast
    Sideways Taco Salad

    FRIDAY
    Yogurt with Blueberries & Granola
    		 Mexican Cobb Salad with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

    SATURDAY


    SUNDAY


    SUCCESSFUL RECIPES  FROM LAST WEEK

    So often we become so focused on the finish line 
    that we fail to enjoy the journey. 
    ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

    HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS
    Are you getting bitten to death by bugs this summer? Don’t go buy pricey bite creams.  Instead saturate a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and dot the bites.  Apple cider vinegar is an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and anti-bacterial all rolled into one and a pantry staple 99% of us have in our kitchen. It will stop the itch, reduce the swelling and heal the skin all at once naturally and inexpensively.

    HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
    I keep a tray of vinegar ice cubes in the freezer to use once a week in my garbage disposal to keep it fresh and help sharpen the blades at the same time.  I also use a lot of lemons in my cooking and try to time cleaning the disposal to also grinding the rinds of the lemons for not only a fresh smelling disposal, but also a fresh smelling kitchen.

    THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

    • HUGS from my favorite neighbor kids!
    • Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!
    • When an experimental recipe turns out PERFECT like the Aloha BBQ Pork Ribs did!
    • Reading a book that I get so lost in that I forget ALL about time.

    FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

    View from our room in the Light Keeper’s cottage for 2 glorious days and nights!  There were so many pictures to choose from, but I have to say this was one of my very favorites. I’m doing a post about the entire destination wedding soon where I will be sharing all the other photos.

    INSPIRATION