HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 14 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.93

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 bet you’re tired of hearing me tell you about YET ANOTHER winter storm blowing through šŸ˜€ But here we are in April and YET ANOTHER winter storm is blowing through! The news said this was the coldest March since 1954 and April is shaping up to follow. We are supposed to get cold and snow through Tuesday and then it looks like we MIGHT actually get a taste of spring around here.

Unfortunately, we have to go to a specialist appointment this morning an hour north of here. With the snow predicted we have actually packed a bag as a JUST IN CASE we get there and have trouble getting back.

We did have our garage sale this past weekend despite the weather (oh my we were sooooooo cold even in the actual garage with ALL the weather changes that kept blowing through) and did pretty well with it, but I’ve been wearing 3-4 layers EVERY day and at least through Tuesday will be no different.

COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED best describes where I’m at right now! I’m going to try and take some time for myself this week, but with so many things going on it may be hard to find that time.

A dear friend who care takes for her mother is a bit blue because of the progression of her mother’s condition and I worry about her – she tends to have way too much on her plate, but I’m keeping her and her mother in my prayers. She is actually going to be able to get away for a few days of warmth and sunshine and I hope that brightens her smile.

Another dear friend is under the weather with a troublesome stomach bug and she too has WAY too much on her plate also care taking for her husband, a move to a new house that needs everything and multiple Eagle’s projects!

Yet another friend from the Eagles collapsed at church yesterday morning and has been airlifted to another city for surgery this morning for a blockage to the brain. šŸ™ I’m keeping her and her family in my prayers for a successful surgery and quick recovery. She was going to be cooking Friday night dinner at the Eagles. I was asked to fill in for her so will be making a grocery run this week that wasn’t planned, but I’m glad to be able to help out in this small way. I’m going to make a baked Chicken Parmesan with Fettuccine Alfredo with a Pineapple sour cream cake for dessert.

Hot water and a baby food squeeze pouch as we get out the door.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a load of sheets and towels to do as well as quite a bit of ironing that I’ve been putting off because they are all spring clothes I can’t wear yet anyway šŸ˜€ I also need to do a deep clean to put the house in order after the garage sale. Just about everything left from the garage sale needs to be boxed up and is being donated to the Eagles for their yard sale that will take place while we are at hubby’s family reunion. All the proceeds will be going to their scholarship fund.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS After hubby’s appointment today we will do lunch, and a few errands as well asĀ  the Eagle’s Chef Store shopping before heading home. I’ll do the shopping for Friday’s dinner while I’m in our local town doing the rest of the Eagle’s shopping on Wednesday.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Other than the obvious bills that need paid, the roof leak and cat/house sitting for the neighbors MUCH of what was planned for this week will probably in ALL reality wait until next week. I also need to get caught up on the BLOG 365 recipe posts that are missing.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING HA HA I’m so far behind I may never catch up šŸ˜€

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE This week was so busy with preparing for the garage sale every night that we were lucky to get NASCAR and an old Ernest Borgnine movie watched.

I am in between books right now, but will choose one while hubby is driving this morning. šŸ˜€

4/3 MONDAY
4/4Ā Ā  TUESDAY
4/5 WEDNESDAY
4/6 THURSDAY
4/7Ā Ā  FRIDAY
4/8 SATURDAY
4/9Ā Ā  EASTER SUNDAY
DINNER
Ā CHICKEN TETRAZZINI
Ā PB&J PORK SANDWICHES, SOUTHERN BLACK-EYED PEAS & DUTCH COLESLAW
Ā BALSAMIC CAPRESE CHICKEN with POTUGESE DRESSING
Ā STEAKHOUSE BAKED POTATOES
CHICKEN PARMESAN, BAKED FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
Ā HOLIDAY CHICKEN and
HAM, LOADED TWICE BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE and GLAZED CARROTS
DESSERT
Ā 
Ā 
BANANA PINEAPPLE SOUR CREAM CAKE
LIMONCELLO CHEESECAKE

The kittens trying to huddle together and stay warm in this long term cold. Looks like we finally have a foster in place for them.

I was so busy last week that I didn’t get much accomplished blog wise so will be doing the same links as last week.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 13 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.86

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

Last Thursday through Saturday were a whirlwind of weather. Saturday in particular was super cold while sunny to hail to snow with wind repeating itself every half hour! We had canceled our garage sale last week (fortunately) because of the winter storm scheduled to blow through and are so glad we did! We’ll actually have it this Friday and Saturday.

Today is supposed to be only cloudy with the rain beginning after dinner so I’m hoping to finish with the pricing and such today. The highs will be in the 40’s and lows will still be in the 30’s though last night was in the 20’s.

As of right now we are supposed to have a bit of showers, but no out right RAIN during the day and NO WINTER STORM this week (at least not yet).

I’ve been burning the candle at both ends recently for so MANY reasons, but will fortunately be stepping back from several things and having the garage sale over will be a really HUGE help. The estate sale I’ve been helping with is dwindling down also and that will be a HUGE relief also.

I’m trying a half a cup of coffee this morning with my cherry yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I don’t care what the weather continues to do I’ve started spring cleaning šŸ˜€ I have a couple loads of bedding and towels to do.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I need just a few things for this week’s menu since it is really last week’s menu and will pick those up when I go for a hair and nails appointment on Wednesday. Wednesday is also the day I do the shopping for the Eagles so that will work out well. Thursday hubby has an out of town appointment I need to go with him and that will be an all day thing.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Just a few things for this week, most will get done next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I have been so busy that this has started to be kind of a joke category, but I’m hoping to actually get to this later in the week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We watched a few old TCM classics like STAGECOACH with John Wayne, THE NAKED SPUR with Jimmy Stewart and Dr. Zhivago with Omar Sharif and Julie Christie as well as the NASCAR races. I also got caught up with WALKER, The GOOD DOCTOR, The WAY HOME and the EQUALIZER while I was cleaning and pricing things yesterday.

I just started 2 different books to see what settles in. Both are new to me authors so I’m just not sure yet.

  • We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker and House Above the Work Shop by Sage Parker.

MONDAY 3/27
TUESDAY 3/28
WEDNESDAY 3/29
THURSDAY 3/30
Ā  FRIDAYĀ  3/31
SATURDAY 4/1
SUNDAY 4/2
DINNER
Ā ENCHILADA MEATBALLS
MEXICAN CHICKEN MANICOTTI
Ā SLOW COOKER PORK CHOPS & PEAS with SHALLOTS and CREAMY PASTA
Ā OUT
PB&J PORK SANDWICHES with DUTCH COLESLAW
COURT BOUILLON CHICKEN
PEASANT SKILLET
DESSERT
Ā CHOCOLATE MALT CRISP BARS
Ā 
Ā 

We did go feed the appreciative peacocks last week one day. I was also rewarded with a train full of #RailArt when we stopped at our favorite tavern for lunch.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 12 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.79

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

Spring is supposed to start tomorrow. I think mother nature forgot. Our weather while it is supposed to be rainy is NOT supposed to be still forecasting bouts of snow. I keep hoping I’ll wake up and realize it’s all an early April fool’s joke šŸ˜€

Since I made the cute little graphic above, the weather has changed to plain old snow only for next weekend and ALL out RAIN on Friday šŸ™

EXHAUSTED is the only way to describe how I feel. I have truly been burning the candle at both ends and have worn myself out. I took the weekend to try and recharge by going to bed a bit earlier and sleep a bit longer in order to recharge. The estate sale I’ve been helping with should be over soon and our own garage sale being over will help A LOT! There is also a resurgence of COVID in our little town amongst many people we know and associate with so I have been laying low to avoid contact. Fortunately, I hadn’t had any recent serious contact with those who currently have it and will go out of my way to avoid close contact with just about everyone for awhile.

I’m still battling the technology fix to catch up with BLOG 365. The missing posts are being recreated, but it’s a slow go. I’m hoping to be caught up by next week. I’m missing only 4 posts, but they seem to be taking forever to recreate.

Hot water and black cherry yogurt

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ve been finishing up the sorting and pricing for next weekend’s garage sale and the laundry is all caught up.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS This category is still a work in progress
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS a few unfinished things that I may push off until next week after the garage sale.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING This is a serious work in progress category šŸ˜€

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We watched HUD with Paul Newman and Patricia Neal on TCM along with NASCAR and Tournament of Champions. I’m hoping to catch up on the DVR this next week.

Just about to finish up book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series and will then start Kirsten Proby’s Cauldron’s Call.

MONDAY 3/20
TUESDAY 3/21
WEDNESDAY 3/22
THURSDAY 3/23
FRIDAY 3/24
SATURDAY 3/25
SUNDAY 3/26
DINNER
Ā ARROZ VERDE co POLLO and SALAD
Ā THREE CUP BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN
ENCHILADA MEATBALLS and RICE
Ā PB&J PORK SLIDERS with PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COLESLAW
Ā BUFFALO CHICKEN EGG ROLLS & COLESLAW
Ā BUFFALO MACARONI & CHEESE BITES and SALAD
PEASANT SKILLET with BUTTER SWIM BISCUITS
DESSERT
Ā 
Ā LEMON RICOTTA CAKE
Ā 

Despite more cold and even a bit of snow in the forecast later this week, these daffodils are pushing up in hopes Spring really will start tomorrow.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 11 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.72

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

You guessed it – still cold and even predicting a bit of snow tomorrow. Last Saturday was chilly, but BEAUTIFUL and then woke up yesterday to gray, foggy, rainy and low temps again. This week is supposed to be all over the place!

I try and remind myself of this every day! I’m actually feeling pretty good despite all the extra work and stress in my life lately. I think my blog/server/email issues are all resolved and with minimal disruption and only a lost post or two. I did however lose all your sweet comments from last week. At least I was able to read them before they disappeared.

Hubby’s appointment last week for a second opinion went pretty much how we expected, but we REALLY like the new doctor A LOT! AND we are a lot more comfortable with the new treatment plan.

The remainder of the week was spent working on the estate sale that began on Friday. Friday and Saturday went well despite the vultures who showed up an hour early! Both days were NON-STOP!! Yesterday was a welcome relief of a little down time to play catch up at home.

Some hot water, peach yogurt and a banana.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite being so busy I am actually caught up on the laundry and dishes, but do need to vacuum.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS It’s supposed to rain all day today, but I’m hoping to get the groceries and errands done today if possible.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made a BIG dent last night in a pile last night. Hopefully I’ll get to it again tonight.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I was lucky to get a plan made for this week and a list for the groceries to match, but have a stack of recipe to sit and go through if I can find a quiet time to make a month’s worth of menu planning later this week.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE The only thing we watch last week was a NASCAR race and an old DVR recording of CASABLANCA and SKYJACKED on TCM. I’m really hoping things begin slowing down so I can catch up on what on the DVR.

I’m still reading book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series, but have been way too tired to even read at night.

Oh my, the past several weeks have LITERALLY been non-stop and ALL menu plans went right out the window! We ended up eating out many times or making sandwiches or C.O.R.N. on the fly. So let’s try this again!!!!!

MONDAY 3/13
TUESDAY 3/14
WEDNESDAY 3/15
THURSDAY 3/16
FRIDAY 3/17
SATURDAY 3/18
SUNDAY 3/19
DINNER
Ā APPLE CIDER PORK CHOPS with CRISPY SMASHED HERBED POTATOES
Ā RUSTIC MAC & CHEESES or BUFFALOĀ  MAC & CHEESE BITES
MEATLOAF with PEAS & POTATOES
Ā BEEF & BLACK BEAN SOUP with YEAST ROLLS
Ā CORNED BEEF with POTATOES & CARROTS of course
Ā CHICKEN FRANCESE
PEASANT SKILLET with PARMESAN RANCH ROLLS
DESSERT
Ā rustic caramel apple tart
Ā 
chocolate malt krispies
Ā grasshopper brownies for the Saint Patrick’s Day bake sale at the Eagles
dulce de leche & cinnamon sandwich cookies

I didn’t even have time to take pictures last week because things were soooooo non stop!

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY and MENU PLANS week 10 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.65

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

Spring is only 2 weeks away, but NOT here! The geese that flew over yesterday were actually headed south! The snow started early, changed to rain and then back to snow and then sleet. The afternoon hail was the size of large grapes! The breeze was bone chilling. I assume that none of these are good omens – the geese in particular must know something we don’t.

This morning it’s lightly snowing now, but is supposed to turn to rain a bit later and then we’re supposed be getting more snow yet again this week with super cold temperatures still so you guessed it, I’m continuing to layer and staying as warm as possible.

I admit I’ve been burning the proverbial candle on both ends. Of course that’s also when Murphy’s Law kicks in and something else or even several something elses go wrong!

You may have noticed I haven’t been around to visit much. I apologize!!! I have been battling technology issues transferring my blog from one server to another and boy what headaches did that cause! I THINK (fingers crossed) that it’s all handled! Now we’re working on transferring domains and email addresses this week. For a week or so I guess I was like an old Verizon commercial except instead of “Can you hear me now?” it was “Can you see me now?” šŸ˜€

Quick and easy this morning. We need to be on the road fairly early for a specialist appointment in another city 100+ miles away just after lunch time and the weather is a bit iffy so I’m just having a peach yogurt and hot water.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m actually up to date – yesterday’s bad weather kept me inside and staying busy.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have to do the shopping for a meal at the Eagles that a friend and I are preparing on Friday as well as the 2 soup nights I’m signed up for when I go to town for a pedicure on Tuesday. Wednesday Dana and I have to prepare the parts for Friday’s meal and then do the regular COSTCO shopping for the Eagles lodge. Thursday-Saturday will be spent helping my friend with what we hope will be a BLOW OUT for the estate sale we’ve been working on. The last 2 weeks have been so very busy with the estate sale and a good deal of the large pieces are sold and gone already which is a good thing.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m still waiting on several return calls for a couple projects. We’re traveling to a specialist appointment for hubby and will hit a couple of my favorite stores before we come home.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING This is a serious work in project and will be reevaluated after I see what proteins I can buy at my favorite store later today.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE The DVR is full of things to watch when I get a chance. I’ve been so busy I can’t even tell you what!

I began Book #24 of Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series last night.

Last week’s menu went right out the window with so many glitches in the week. So, there will be a couple items that appear to be duplicates of last week’s menu, but are indeed for the first time šŸ˜€

MONDAY 3/6
TUESDAY 3/7
WEDNESDAY 3/8
THURSDAY 3/9
FRIDAY 3/10
SATURDAY 3/11
SUNDAY 3/12
DINNER
MONROE COUNTY PORK STEAKS with SMOKEY “BAKED” WHITE BEANS
Ā CHILI and CORN BREAD
Ā PEASANT SKILLET & CRISPY SMASHED TATERS
Ā APPLE CIDER PORK CHOPS, AU GRATIN PEAS & POTATOES
Cooking at the EAGLES CHICKEN PARMESAN SPINACH ARTICHOKE BAKE, ROASTED HONEY ROSEMARY BUTTERNUT SQUASH and CHOCOLATE FRITO BARS
Ā ROAST LEMON CHICKEN and MAC & CHEESE
OUT
DESSERT
Ā 
RUSTIC CARAMEL APPLE TART
Ā 

My finished MIXED MEDIA flower cart from last Friday night’s class is done! I just didn’t like the Eiffel tower in the original painting so changed it up to fit me with the hanging basket of flowers šŸ˜€
MY FAVORITE LOCAL BARN IS STILL A WORKING ONE

 

Upcoming class I want to do.

Yep, this is a repeat of last week since I was never able to participate in my normal blog hops last week.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 9 of 2023 BLOG 365.58

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

Remember how last week and the week before we were under Winter Storm Watch? Well we are again. šŸ˜€ Despite the cold and wintry mix we’ve evaded a good deal of the “BAD” weather. It’s like we’re in a “DOMED” area that isn’t getting the same as ALL the way around us. Honestly that scares me a little bit just waiting for the other shoe to fall šŸ˜€ There is no sun forecasted for this week and every day has either snow or wintry mix and gray clouds. Needless to say I’m still wearing Levis, UGGs and multiple layers of turtlenecks and hoodies.

I have to share this text conversation that my girlfriend Dana and I had after a VERY BUSY week where she moved, it snowed, we helped another friend with an estate sale, her hubby had a medical procedure that had them revisit the ER twice, I’m still working on getting my own garage sale items ready, a couple doctor appointments, it snowed again and we culminated the week in donating and preparing dinner on Friday night at the Eagles. Our proceeds went to the charity and scholarship funds. By Friday night we were pretty slap happy so it’s pretty funny…Ā 

Dana:
AWESOME job tonight missy! You nailed it!!!!!!!!!!

Tamy:
You too my friend – you are an energizer bunny 😃 We got so much more than just dinner done 😃

Dana:
Love it!!!! Now if I had that energy at home!!!😆

Tamy:
You will soon as you get settled 😘 IS THERE SOMETHING I’M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING ON MONDAY THAT I DIDN’T GET ONTO MY CALENDAR?

Dana:
??? You’re freaking me out. Ummm, I don’t know??

Tamy:
OOPS didn’t mean to yell. Not trying to freak you out! Just seems like I committed to do something Monday, but didn’t add it to my calendar.

Dana:
Was it a pedicure? Volunteering at a soup kitchen, rescuing puppies from a raging river, reading to the children, singing to sea otters at a sanctuary or maybe training blind bats to fly??

Tamy:
LMBO 🤣 LOL 🤣 how many drinks did you have after I left tonight???? 🤣

Hot water and trying a cinnamon raisin English muffin

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have the tail end of the sorting for the garage sale to do today and then will begin a deep clean. Laundry is all caught up fortunately allowing me extra some extra time.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be doing ALL the shopping for the Eagles Lodge on Wednesday so will work my errands into that day.
  • PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I have several phone calls to make following up on a few things and have a painting class on Friday night. I’m hoping it will make me start thinking spring šŸ˜€
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m planned through this week and will start with a fresh plan over the weekend.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We’ve been so busy it’s been a challenge to get things watched – thank goodness for DVR’s. NASCAR was rained out at its scheduled times so we missed the races this weekend.

I’m almost done reading The Restaurant by Pamela Kelly from her Nantucket Inn series.

MONDAY 2/27
TUESDAY 2/28
WEDNESDAY 3/1
THURSDAY 3/2
FRIDAY 3/3
SATURDAY 3/4
SUNDAY 3/5
DINNER
Ā CHEESE BURGER SOUP with TWISTY ROLLS
PEASANT SKILLET
Ā BEEF & BLACK BEAN SOUP with YEAST ROLLS
Ā OUT FOR HUBBY’S BIRTHDAY
Ā CHICKEN FRANCESE
Ā PORK CHOP POTATO SKILLET
VAMPIRE MAC & CHEESE
DESSERT
Ā 
Ā 
CRISPY CHOCOLATE MALT BARS
Ā BERRY PATCH CRUMB BARS

We took a short drive last weekend to get out one day and came upon a road with weird mile markers.
On that road was this sign. The population number was confusing though as we ran across at least a dozen or more houses with multiple vehicles each.
This was a strange sky yesterday morning. Snowing to the left, raining to the right and sunny straight up – for a minute šŸ˜€
The temperatures this morning and every morning recently.
A couple early waterfalls from our drive last weekend.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 8 of 2023 BLOG 365.51

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 truly feel like I’m in an episode of Ground Hog Day! We did have snow last week for Valentine’s day, most of which melted by Wednesday and Thursday, though we still have some on north facing slope areas.

But, that was only a precursor for the 5 days they are predicting this week and  a couple more into March. One night this week is slated for a low of 17° which is fairly unusual for this late in February.

So, you guessed it, I’m still wearing layers and layers šŸ˜€ Today is a purple turtleneck sweater and gray hoodie with Levi’s my favorite black UGG’s. By the way, did you know you can wash UGG’s? I broke a bottle of oil last week and soiled my UGG’s and Levis to a point that I thought it was hopeless! I figured I’d try some dirt devil stain remover and washing since I really had nothing to lose and was so surprised at how well it worked. It did take a bit for them to dry, but they’re better than ever!

I’m feeling much better this week! Good thing I had so many BLOG 365 posts ready to go. Between the Valentines dance and super bowl party planning and shopping, I didn’t know if I was coming or going the last couple weeks, though this week is still quite busy.

Praying for the situation in Turkey and Syria. So many needlessly lost lives between the catastrophe and corruption that led to so many construction issues and building collapses – ALL so sad.

I know after the 1994 Northridge earthquake we also had widespread Valley Fever from spores that were released from underground after the quake. I pray that there isn’t some “new”, “ancient” virus that has been released in the Turkey/Syria area compromising them further.

Hot water and a banana.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have several loads of laundry to do playing catch up, but it will wait so I can help a friend who is supposed to move in the snow in a couple days as well as get my groceries and errands (that I WAS going to do at the end of the week) out of the way before the weather turns.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS A quick Walmart run for a couple items and grocery list when I head to town for my primary yearly exam.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m actually hoping for a couple days of snow so I can have an excuse to sit and peruse cookbooks for a March Menu.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE TCM – Gunga Din, NUN’s Story, A Mid Summer’s Night Dream as well as NASCAR and TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS starting this week and most of our “REGULAR” network shows.

I started reading The Restaurant by Pamela Kelly from her Nantucket Inn series.

MONDAY 2/20
TUESDAY 2/21
WEDNESDAY 2/21
THURSDAY 2/23
FRIDAY
2/24
SATURDAY 2/25
SUNDAY 2/26
DINNER
Ā MAMA GRONK CHICKEN SOUFFLE
MANICOTTI and SNAP PEA SALAD
Ā PORK CHOP SKILLET and GREEN CHILE CREAMED CORN
CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP
Ā SLOW COOKER BEEF STROGANOFF and 2 1/2 BEAN SALAD cooking for the EAGLE’s dinner if it doesn’t get canceled due to snow
Ā CRANBERRY CHICKEN WINGS
HAM ENCHILADA BAKE for BRUNCH, COPY CAT KFC CHICKEN and MASHED POTATOES
DESSERT
Ā 
Ā 
Ā PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE

 

I need to find homes for these sweet kittens. Sweet Pea here is especially soft, cuddly and loving.

It’s been pretty gray lately, but we did have a couple clear days that ended in amazing sunsets.

And this American Robin is awfully daring to land within reach of the quick and curious kittens.

I still really want to build this in my next kitchen! But, with a French door refrigerator with the 2 drawer snack pulls. šŸ˜€

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 7 of 2023 BLOG 365.44

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 sweet friends! Can you believe that we’re halfway through February already?

Last week was sooooooooooooo busy and this week is looking like it will be too! Our Eagle’s lodge had a Valentine’s dinner dance on Saturday night and a Super Bowl party yesterday. I already do half the weekly shopping for the lodge on Wednesdays, but the lady who does the other half was sick this week so I did it ALL, PLUS the shopping for the Dinner Dance AND Super Bowl Party.

We had a GREAT time at the party. Trudy and I were the official trivia question answer checkers throughout the game. Congratulations to Jean and the Chiefs on a GREAT fun to watch game and the ultimate WIN šŸ™‚

Then I spent Thursday helping my friend with estate sale items, Friday prepping the food for Saturday and Sunday, Saturday cooking and serving and Sunday helping with the boards and activities for the Super Bowl Party ~ ALL of which were HUGE successes! I even won some of the score board money, a t-shirt from an old favorite hangout, some kitchen credit money, beer coozies and these embroidered hand quilted pot holders.

So, evidently, Punxsutawney Phil was right this year! We are under Winter Storm Warning AGAIN! SO, needless to say we’re still cold and I’m still wearing multiple layers with warm UGG’s!

I’m devastated by the ongoing horror in Turkey and praying for ALL of those affected and that they can truly deal with the corruption that led to so many deaths from poor construction.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I need to catch up BIG time on the chores I didn’t get done during last week’s chaos!
  • GROCERIES, ERRANDS, PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Hubby and I are doing date night with a couples paint night and dinner at a favorite haunt.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m done for this week, but will be doing a deep dive on the pantry/freezer inventory tomorrow to make the next month’s menu.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We finished the re-watch of How I Met Your Mother and NASCAR starts next weekend, cooking shows…

I am literally between books, but did finished all the cooking magazines I needed to get through so will start a book tomorrow.

MONDAY 2/13
TUESDAY 2/14
WEDNESDAY 2/15
THURSDAY 2/16
FRIDAY 2/17
SATURDAY 2/18
SUNDAY 2/19
DINNER
SLOW COOKER BUFFALO CHICKEN LASAGNA
Ā SAUCY PORK CHOP SKILLET, QUICK YEAST ROLLS
MEATY MANICOTTI and SNAP PEA SALAD
COPY CAT KFC CHICKEN, GREEN CHILI CREAMED CORN
Ā BEEF & BLACK BEAN SOUP
Ā SLOW COOKED CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP
ROUND UP RIBS, GRANDMA DOLL’S POTATO SALAD
DESSERT
Ā BANANA NUT BREAD andĀ  CHOCOLATE BANANA MUFFINS
Ā CHOCOLATE CHUNK CHERRY COBBLER
FRUIT CROISSANT PUFF
FLOURLESS DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE
Ā APPLE PUDDING CAKE
MAPLE CARROT CUPCAKES
BRUNCH HAM ENCHILADAS

The one and only sunny day last week the kitties got out to play.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 6 of 2023 BLOG 365.37

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

It’s February, what can I say? It’s cold, wet, foggy and rainy. šŸ˜€ So layers, layers and more layers with comfy UGGs

Our first house was a TINY 1 bedroom place. Our next house wasn’t much bigger, but was twice the size with 2 bedrooms and a larger kitchen so we accumulated yet a few more things.

Around that same time my dad passed away and we ended up with quite a few “extra” things when my mom downsized from the 4 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom condo as well as the “leftovers” from closing our family antiques and collectables store.

Then our next house was a move across the country and was a HUGE 3 story plus a BARN so we accumulated yet even more things to fill it “appropriately”!

From there, several years later we began care taking for multiple family members around the country and almost everything ended up in storage while we traveled until we went back to Texas to rehab my grandparent’s house (which was half the size) after my cousin passed away, but most of you remember what a mess that was! It was such an involved project that we never really got to deal with our own things (let alone unpack them) because ALL our time was spent on dealing with the hoarding mess my cousin left behind plus the repairs and updates required to bring the house up to date for sale.

So, now that we’re finally dealing with our own needs, we are down sizing BIG TIME and I’m absolutely exhausted making it happen! We’ve been working long and hard sorting, condensing and repacking as we go through EVERYTHING for the upcoming garage sale. I’M HAPPY TO SAY that the donation pile and the sell pile are both QUITE LARGE!

BUT, trying to schedule my time between the winter cold which eliminates working outside in the early morning and late afternoons, all the rain, helping a friend organize an estate sale, my duties at the Eagles and ALL the other things that fill my schedule has been time consuming and like I said, COMPLETELY EXHAUSTING!

You guessed it – hot water and yogurt! šŸ˜€

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m up to date on the laundry, but have some serious cleaning and vacuuming to do from the mess of preparing for the garage sale šŸ˜€
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS, APPOINTMENTS, PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I have an out of town oncology check up for my 7 year remission šŸ™‚ later this morning, haircut and pedicure tomorrow, shopping for the Eagles post on Wednesday which will be a BIG one because of the Valentine’s dinner and party on Saturday and helping a friend with an estate sale on Thursday and Friday. Sunday I’ll be back to working on our own garage sale items.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING My menu is planned through this week, but I’m still leafing through a bunch of magazines from the estate sale looking for new ideas.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • AMAZON PRIME Last night we watched SHOTGUN WEDDING and LOST CITY which was cute and funny!
  • CABLE Got caught up on all the prime time shows and cooking shows and watched MR. LUCKY on TCM

I’ll finish The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff tonight and am ready to start something new, but still have not decided what. I’m hoping to get through the rest of the cooking magazines first.

2/6 MONDAY
2/7 TUESDAY
2/8 WEDNESDAY
2/9 THURSDAY
2/10 FRIDAY
2/11 SATURDAY
2/12 SUNDAY
DINNER
Ā UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS & COWBOY BREAD
Ā STAMPEDE RIBS & POTATO SALAD
Ā PEASANT SKILLET
Ā SLOW COOKER CHEESY WHITE LASAGNA
Ā CHEESEBURGER SOUP
Ā C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT
ORANGE GLAZED MEATBALLS
DESSERT
Ā CHOCOLATE MALT BARS
Ā 
HINT OF CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES
Ā FUDGY OAT BROWNIES
CHOCOLATE FRITO BARS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 5 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.30

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

It has been pretty nice the last couple days, but COLD. And then last night it became FRIGID with a low at 17° when I got up at 6:30. The bird bath is frozen solid! Fortunately we don’t have a storm today, but do have a small craft advisory due to wind. This always makes me laugh because we’re 15-20 miles from the coast as the crow flies, yet we always get the small craft advisories in the weather forecast šŸ˜€

Today is supposed to be the only sunny day this week with another frigid nighttime low tonight. Needless to say, I’m still living in turtlenecks, sweaters, Levis and UGGS. The rest of the week we return to our regularly scheduled programming of rain, grey clouds and more rain šŸ˜€

So many things on my mind, but how I’m feeling is the hard part. I have so much to do, but have been limping around since last Wednesday when I accidentally jammed my foot into a corner and broke a couple toes and did soft tissue damage. I’ve been icing it several times a day so am at least not turning black and blue (yet) just a mild purple šŸ˜€ You take walking for granted until something like this happens!Ā 

Mixed fruit yogurt and hot water.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I accomplished all the laundry yesterday and will finish some organizing and cleaning today and tomorrow.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS This week’s menu is from the pantry and freezer, so no groceries to speak of. I have just a few errands to run later in the week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m trying to clean up some recipe scraps. February’s menu plan is done and I’m now working on the one for March.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE We didn’t watch much TV this week. When we did we watched some old TCM movies – Larceny, Inc., Young Man with a Horn, The Fastest Gun Alive and Woman of the Year. We also watched Frozen Planet on BBC, The Hammer with Reba ON DEMAND and the football championships of course. I know Jean is celebrating šŸ˜€

I started reading Summer Magic book #1 of the The Thorne Witches by T.M. Cromer

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
Ā CHICKEN FRICASSE, PENNIES from HEAVEN CARROTS and SALAD
Ā HAM & WILD RICE CHOWDER with SOUR CREAM CHEDDAR BISCUITS
Ā PASTA FAGIOLI with COWBOY BREAD
Ā BBQ CHICKEN & APPLE BREAD PUDDING with SALAD
Ā PORK CHOP POTATO CASSEROLE with HONEY-LIME COLE SLAW
Ā CRISPY LEMON CHICKEN
CHICKEN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
DESSERT
Ā 
CHAPEL SQUARES (finally)
Ā 

Last week my girlfriend and I were in town and it was a beautiful day! Where we live tends to be gray, foggy and rainy ALL the time, but just 10 miles away they see the sun which really made us happy! So, on the way home I was able to get a great rainbow picture since I wasn’t driving šŸ˜€

I also got this cute close up of Mirror #1

And then there was this amazing sunset last night.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 4 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.23

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 so glad I didn’t get too attached to the “dry” forecast that promised 10 days of sun – I knew it was too good to be true šŸ˜€ Not only did Saturday rain all day despite a dry forecast, the rain and snow are back in the forecast for this week! Once again highs in the low 40’s with lows in the high 20’s so it will be lots of turtlenecks, flannels and UGG’s

I’m baffled by so many things, but the other day when I cam home to this HUGE box on my porch. What baffled me most was that I was only waiting for a small item to be delivered. LOL šŸ˜€ in the HUGE box (that I could pick up with 1 finger) was the small non-breakable item I ordered. So, what baffles me most is WHY? did they ship this in such a HUGE box? And we wonder why prices continue to rise so badly!

Things suddenly became an issue with my web host for both this site and my emails so I have been frantically working on some files (many, many files) to get things transferred to a new host before the end of the month. It is also a domino effect because of the domain registrations that ALSO have to be transferred. This has kept me so busy I barely have time to think, get my work done, do BLOG 365, new recipes and of course visit all of you, but I will get caught up I promise. Fortunately I had planned on using some fillers like Wordless Wednesday and Sipping Sunday to help with BLOG 365 and have many of those already lined up.

You guessed it! Hot water and yogurt šŸ˜€

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have just a couple of loads of laundry to do, a little vacuuming and deep clean the kitchen.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS & PROJECTS Fortunately none this week so I can concentrate on some sorting for a couple days to continue the downsizing until I need to help a friend on Thursday and Friday.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I landed the first glance at a HUGE pile of Cooks and Taste of Home magazines from this estate sale so have been choosing some recipes for February.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We are watching Vikings Valhalla
  • AMAZON PRIME We are watching RIG – not sure it will keep our interest though
  • CABLE We watched a few TCM movies that were a real treat last week – NIGHT SHIFT with Henry Winkler and Michal Keaton, LIBELED LADY with Jean Harlow, Myrna Loi, William Powell and Spenser Tracy & THE IRENE & VERNON CASTLE STORY which I REALLY enjoyed and started watching RULES of ENGAGEMENT at night as our comedy

I love reading WWII romance stories. I just started the Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff.

MONDAY 1/23
TUESDAY 1/24
WEDNESDAY 1/25
THURSDAY 1/26
FRIDAY 1/27
SATURDAY 1/28
SUNDAY 1/29
DINNER
STUFFED MEATBALLS with BOLEGNESE SPAGHETTI
Ā COCONUT PEANUT CHICKEN with RICE
Ā GERMAN MEATBALLS & SAUERKRAUT
Ā PORK CHOPS & MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE
Ā FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES
Ā LEMON CHICKEN & HONEY LIME COLESLAW
GRILLED CHICKEN & POTLUCK BAKED BEANS
DESSERT
Ā PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD SNACK CAKE
Ā CHAPEL SQUARES
GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CUPCAKES with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Ā 
RASPEBERRY PECAN CRUMBLE BARS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 3 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.16

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

EVERY time I checked the weather yesterday the forecast for the week was DIFFERENT except for the temperatures. So we’ll supposedly still be in the 40’s during the day and 30’s at night, it’ll be gray and cloudy with some wind and we may or may not have rain šŸ˜€ We were supposed to be sunny yesterday and weren’t so I just don’t trust what they say and will take it one day at a time!

I’m still working on putting away the Christmas decorations as I sort though them for the garage sale and will be deep cleaning the kitchen with no plans to leave the house at all today so will be in yoga pants and a purple long sleeve t-shirt all day.

I’m back to hot water and yogurt. The coffee experiment didn’t work out.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a load of sheets going with a load of towels to do next today and a few blouses to iron. I’ll finish the de-decorating today and begin the deep clean.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I think I’m good this week on groceries and just have 1 quick appointment on Wednesday morning.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m done through January šŸ˜€

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We started watching Vikings Valhalla
  • AMAZON PRIME We started watching RIG
  • CABLE Regular shows are starting to get back to normal so will be checking out what’s on the DVR. DISH is in dispute with FOX so I am missing a few shows, but refuse to start another streaming service just for 2-3 shows.

I love reading WWII romance stories. I just started the Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff.

Summer 1941. Young Adelia Montforte flees fascist Italy for America, where she is whisked away to the shore by her well-meaning aunt and uncle. Here, she meets and falls for Charlie Connally, the eldest of the four Irish-Catholic boys next door. But all hopes for a future together are soon throttled by the war and a tragedy that hits much closer to home.

Grief-stricken, Addie flees—first to Washington and then to war-torn London—and finds a position at a prestigious newspaper, as well as a chance to redeem lost time, lost family…and lost love. But the past always nips at her heels, demanding to be reckoned with. And in a final, fateful choice, Addie discovers that the way home may be a path she never suspected.”

MONDAY 1/16
TUESDAY 1/17
WEDNESDAY 1/18
THURSDAY 1/19
FRIDAY 1/20
SATURDAY 1/21
SUNDAY 1/22
DINNER
Ā LEMON CHICKEN, MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE & PENNIES FROM HEAVEN CARROTS
RED BAKED BEANS & CRANBERRY BBQ CHICKEN
Ā FRENCH ONION CHICKEN & TOMATO ONION SALAD
CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE
Ā CHEESY CHICKEN TOMATO BAKED ORZO & SAUTEED PEAS
Ā CHEESY POTATO SOUP & SOUR CREAM CHEDDAR BISCUITS
SICILIAN SPAGHETTI
DESSERT
Ā COFFEE CAKE KNOTS
Ā 
CHAPEL SQUARES
Ā 

My friend texted me and asked if I would be available to cat sit later in the week because they wanted to take a trip. I said of course I’d hang out and feed her sweet and adorable KitKat. Later that day she showed up with these beautiful flowers to say thank you!