Category: MENU PLANS

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 my friends. It’s cold here so grab a warm beverage and join me in getting this last week of November started. We are literally only 3 weeks until Christmas! Are you ready? Do you at least have a plan?

There’s still time to join in with BLOGMAS 2023. You can find my posts to date here.

Imagine that we’re having a ton of rain here in the Pacific North West 😀 The storm that passed through this weekend was quite warm by comparison to what we normally have, but it dropped a TON of rain and we’re on flood watch quite early in the season.

Hubby and I noticed yesterday that there is already a TON of standing water and running small “rivers” in areas that don’t normally see this until later in the season.  I checked two different weather sites and there is no change in the foreseeable future other than the temperature will be dropping back down into the normal range with highs in the 40’s and lows in the 30’s so you guessed it I’m still wearing Levis and layers of flannel for comfort as I start my holiday baking.

I can’t believe 2024 is only 4 weeks away! 2023 seems to have flown by so quickly! I have a list to accomplish yet in 2023 and have started one for 2024 that I want to efficiently accomplish, much of it in January alone.

I also took a look at the posts already published in 2023 and those that are scheduled for the rest of the year and calculated in the posts for BLOGMAS 2023. While I “missed” a few days of continuous posting I have enough days of multiple posts that I realized I’m 4 posts over BLOG 365 😀 making me extremely happy that I will have mostly accomplished this task – WHEW, but that was a lot of pressure for the year.

Nothing this morning. I’ve had several “off” days and just don’t feel well 🙁

I’m trying a couple novels on for size, but not sure which one I’ll settle on first. A dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen and The Heart Match by Phillipa Nefri Clark

There wasn’t much of an opportunity to take many pictures (other than food) this past week, but I did get quite a few turkey shots at a friend’s cabin and my neighbor sent me this pretty shot of our Christmas decorations from her house.

• CHOCOLATE CARAMEL BARS
• BACON MAPLE BARS

• CREAMY RUSTIC TOMATO SOUP with GRILLED CHEESE ROLL-UPS
• CHOCOLATE FUDGE MARBLE CELEBRATION CAKE
• ORANGE BRAISED CHICKEN
  

Good Morning my friends. It’s cold here so grab a warm beverage and join me in getting this last week of November started. We are literally only 4 weeks until Christmas! Are you ready? Do you at least have a plan?

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 been COLD BRRRRRR can you say layers and layers? It’s 26° right now, but we are supposed to get to 47° later today. I always laugh because that 47°, if we even reach it will only last 20 minutes. In reality as I dress for the day it will be 35-40 degrees for the majority of the day. Levis, UGGs and a mock turtleneck with a flannel will be today’s uniform and a favorite hoodie if I even go outside today. We’re supposed to be in this pattern of cold and clear until it begins raining again this weekend when we are supposed to get 5-10 degrees warmer.

BLOGMAS 2023 is in full swing and you can find the previous days here. Join in if you can and don’t forget to leave me a comment so I can know you’re playing along and I can know to visit you 😀 My organizational abilities are paying off and so far I’m up to date on BLOGMAS, but I’ve fallen a bit behind on BLOG 365, about 30 posts which I’m really trying to finish up, but I’ll reevaluate in a couple weeks since I’ll have so many days with duplicates from BLOGMAS. I bet I’ll end up over 365 LOL

I’m trying some maple brown sugar oatmeal with golden raisins this morning and a few sips of coffee.

I’m still reading Jana DeLeon’s Undertow, book #3 of her Tempest Island series – just too busy and tired to get to much more!

We had to drive out a bit further into the country to pick up a couple Christmas presents on Saturday (the only shop small I did as I’m making the majority of gifts this year) and it was super cold (our high that day was 37 degrees for about an hour!), but it was absolutely beautiful. I was actually able to get a couple pictures of some favorite old barns.

And my Amaryllis is about to make a December appearance. The paper whites are next 😀

• RUM RAISIN PUMPKIN PIE
• CHOCOLATE COVERED CHEESE ~ RUBY CHOCOLATE

• CHICKEN CHILE RELLENOS CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
• PECAN CHICKEN with MAPLE CREAM GRAVY
• HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

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

Oh my, where did last week go? It started out so great and then just flew by! I know I didn’t get to visit everyone, but am so hopeful that this week will be better with the downtime on Thursday. We’re going to be just the 2 of us for Thanksgiving so I’m planning on vegging on Thursday and playing catch up with visiting blogs.

I’m also planning on beginning BLOGMAS on Friday and will be posting this year’s LOGO and list tomorrow 😀 I was hoping to have it done for today, but spent all of yesterday helping with a Thanksgiving meal at the Eagles and was just plain worn out last night.

We have had a ton of rain and even had a pretty BIG storm on Saturday night that left what leaves were still on the trees everywhere but and the first bits of snow on the hilltops east of town 😀 This week is supposed to be drier, but also MUCH colder! Funny thing is that what I’m wearing doesn’t really change that much – I just add another layer 😀

There is still A LOT going on and I’ve been extremely busy this week also, but weighing heavy on my mind is some health concerns with my mom and uncle. My uncle is doing better this week than last fortunately. Prayers are still needed for all of them.

On the home front I can’t believe Thanksgiving is Thursday. Fortunately, we aren’t planning a big one and the pivot on the menu is something I’m now looking forward to.

I’m going to a lunch for a sweet lady later so am only doing hot water this morning.

I just started Jana DeLeon’s Undertow, book #3 of her Tempest Island series

I finished my Highland Cow Christmas pillow Saturday. Painting on a flexible fabric canvas is so much harder than a framed canvas and uses so much more paint as well as requires more creativity to get the right textures.

• CHERRY BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS & PINEAPPLE COMPOTE
• SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN DIP
• BARNYARD PIE
  

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

Imagine that, it’s cold, gray and foggy here in the Pacific North West. We’re slated for a week of low 50’s with rain and showers all week. You know what that means? It means a week of soft, cozy flannels and maybe even an afternoon or two of curling up with a good book. 😀

There has been A LOT going on and I’ve been extremely busy, but weighing heavy on my mind is some health concerns with my mom and 2 different uncles. Prayers are needed for all of them.

On the home front I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only 10 days away. Fortunately, we aren’t planning a big one, but the meal I ordered for the day has been mis-delivered and I’m having to pivot on the menu.

I actually have a slow morning planned, well maybe not slow, but at least I don’t have to leave before 11AM for a change. So I’m having some oatmeal and a bit of coffee this morning.

I’m STILL working on Marie Force’s WILD WIDOWS #4. I keep falling asleep before I finish even a paragraph.

We went axe throwing and out to dinner with a group of friends on Saturday night and then I was at an Eagle’s fundraising event on Sunday. We had a great time at both. Axe throwing was fun, but not something I would do on a regular basis – so cross that off the bucket list. It was Niki’s first BIG night out since she got her walking boot after the ankle replacement. There were even a few BULL’s EYES thrown.

Sunday was a create-N-sip picture painting that I will have to finish later this week (I still have MANY details to add as well as the snow storm), but am fairly happy with. One of my besties added her IRL dog to her picture and it is truly uncanny how much it looks like her dog, Daisy! There were so many fun interpretations.

STILL WORKS IN 2023 OR 2024 😀

• VERTICAL SCALLOPED AU GRATIN POTATOES

• CHERRY BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS & PINEAPPLE COMPOTE
• SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN DIP
• BARNYARD PIE

I don’t know about you, but I really can’t believe we’re in November and Christmas is only 49 days away! I’ve been busier than ever (or so it seems), but still have so much I want to accomplish this year. Thank goodness they gave me an hour back yesterday (insert snickering here 😀 )

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 cannot believe this year only has 2 months left. Hubby helped me get out the holiday decorations last week. Ever since COVID I have decorated early and leave them up late. I just love Christmas! For me it truly is about the season and the reason for the season. I LOVE doing the baking and sharing with others. BUT, EVERYTHING is so expensive this year! We’ve decided to scale back drastically and make this a truly old fashioned Christmas. If your can’t eat it or drink it or enjoy it with others, it’s not on our Christmas list. 😀

I’m really hoping that I can enhance BLOGMAS this year and increase our Christmas spirit (which is already pretty high). Our neighbors are wonderful people and I LOVE sharing with them as I bake or create new recipes. They are always honest about the new recipes which I adore so I really appreciate their input. Mark paid me the most wonderful compliment the other day when I took over a pan of Chicken Chile Enchiladas and homemade refried beans when their daughter was visiting. He said I’m always thinking of others and doing nice things for them. Isn’t that what this life (and Christmas) is all about? It is to me and I think the best way for me to start my BLOGMAS season 😀

I’ve also realized that doing BLOG 365 is something I’m glad I’ve done (mostly) this year, but I think next year will be more intentional and purposeful blogging instead of just racing to fill each day.

100% chance of cold and rain so there’s a 100% chance of flannels and UGG’s this week for me. I LOVE living where it’s cold, but I HATE being cold and especially cold toes! We had thunderstorms and pouring raining ALL of Saturday with a short break Sunday morning before it began all over again by lunchtime.

I’m in holiday mode! Don’t hate me, but my Christmas tree is up! Well mostly up, I’ll finish today. We’re not having anyone over for Thanksgiving and on those years I start with Christmas early. It’s my favorite time of year and the cold makes it seem okay to decorate early. We will restrain ourselves and not decorate outside until after Thanksgiving though 😀

I am having some girlfriends over for a charcuterie board and Christmas jewelry tree making get together later today so thought having the tree up would be inspirational.

I spent most of the rainy weekend baking for the Eagles bake sale yesterday and preparing a raffle basket for a pool tournament/memorial for a sweet man who recently passed away. It was hosted by a local bar & grill that my girlfriend manages and she asked me to help her. We raised  close to $1000.00 for his family.

Have I mentioned how much I miss being able to have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning? Especially on cold fall/winter mornings? 😀 This morning is hot water and raisin oatmeal before I brave the cold rainy morning to get the grocery shopping done.

Wild Widows #3, Someone to Love by Marie Force.

I left quite early on Saturday to run errands and go to the fall craft fair, which wasn’t as good as normal, but had I not gone I would have missed this incredible morning shot of the foggy and stormy pond.

• FRUIT PIE BARS

• CHEDDAR MUFFINS
• BROWN BAG APPLE PIE
• HAWAIIAN STIR FRY PINEAPPLE BOATS
  

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

BRRRRRRR this past weekend was cold, at least for this time of the year here. Later next month through February wouldn’t be too surprising, but having the bird bath freeze over before Halloween is a bit unusual.

Our highs are supposed to jump up into the 50’s this week with the lows in the 40’s and rain coming our way by Wednesday night.

Things are starting to calm down FINALLY! I’m looking forward to finally getting some sewing and quilting done. I’m also starting to get the holiday decorations out later today when it warms up just a bit.

I’m trying a bit of coffee today with my black cherry yogurt.

I finished the Heather Webber book, At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities as well as the Kristen Proby book, A Single in Seattle last week and began the latest Wild Widows #3, Someone to Love by Marie Force.

Friday night hubby and I did a date night with a create-n-sip painting and then last Saturday was TRUNK-or-TREAT for the downtown businesses with a scarecrow contest and LOTS of candy for about 1500 kids and was also our Halloween party at the Eagles. I wish I had gotten more pictures of the great costumes.

We helped build the HOCOS POCUS scarecrow scene for a friend who manages a downtown bar and grill – so much fun! I’m not a HUGE decorator of Halloween, but did also enjoy building Elmira, formerly known as Elmer for our front porch on Tuesday.

• NORWEGIAN MEATBALLS
• VERDE CHICKEN ENCHILADA BAKE
• LEMON TIRAMISU
  

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

The weather is taking another dip this week that I’m loving – highs in the 50’s and lows in the 30’s by the end of the week with lots more rain on the way.

A lot going on EVERYWHERE here and in the world. Praying for several people in my life going through MAJOR medical issues as well as all that is going on in Israel and the Ukraine.

BIG surprise 😀 Hot Water and peach yogurt

I’m about to finish Heather Webber’s At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and to begin Dark Nights by Kristin Proby.

These pups were just so cute!

• ANTIPASTO SQUARES
• GREEN & WHITE CHICKEN CHILE

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

This week is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous with sunny mid 60’s to 70’s days after today’s rain is over. But, this is the Pacific North West and that could change by tomorrow 😀

There is so much going on around here and with family, but some of it I’m still processing.

On the Eagles front I was put in charge of a committee for an auxiliary event (the Ducks against the Beavers college game aka THE CIVIL WAR and it’s taken VERY serious around here) on the day after Thanksgiving and I love my committee members and what we are planning.

BUT, yet “that” woman started yesterday in trying to micromanage it all. :SIGH: Just when you think it’s safe to be positive again… Fortunately, I have a wonderful crew and we have a fun menu planned along with games and snacks.

Hot water and peach yogurt 😀 YUMMY insert sarcasm here

I’m finishing Heather Webber’s At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and will be moving on to UnderTow by Jana DeLeon

Hubby and I took a play day on Saturday and did some antiquing, picked up a special order and had a yummy dinner out. One of the places we stopped at was 5th St. market and they have a really neat truck that they decorate for the seasons.

There was a fun coffee house that did this fun display for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The sprinklers have been off for a few weeks now, but yet the mushrooms grow.

• AUTUMN CASSOULET

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

We had a pretty weekend, but it’s finally time for FALL to really kick in around here. I FINALLY get a chance to wear my new flannels this week.

I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to get around to visiting much last week. Things came up that had to be dealt with and then my car ended up in the shop… well you know how those weeks go. This week is starting off a bit busy, but should settle down well by midweek.

I’m looking forward to the rainy days this week and being able to catch up on some book work and blog posts as well as lots of visiting with you all. 😀

Hot Water and yogurt

I’m still only about half way through Heather Webber’s At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities.

It’s FINALLY fall around here and I LOVE it!

• CLASSIC TIMELESS SUGAR COOKIES

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

The weather has been absolutely glorious lately. this week is supposed to be in the 60’s and then the 80’s for 2 days before dropping back into the 60’s. Night time lows are in the low 40’s so all is good by me.

This is a confusing category for me these days. SO much on my mind – much of which I have spilled out on the past few previous Mondays, but also some I’m just not sure about yet…

A couple of sips of coffee and a yogurt.

I’m about half way through Heather Webber’s At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities.

I’ve been house/cat sitting for my neighbor and Kit Kat won’t let me leave without making sure she’s had treats.

I haven’t been taking many pictures other than food, but did capture this skyline a couple days ago that really makes me glad fall is here and the rain is back!

We officially move into my favorite season of the year next Sunday, and I for one, CANNOT wait for it to be even chillier in the mornings and evenings, wearing hoodies and UGGs, drinking hot tea of an evening, maybe eating some popcorn and a movie while curled up with a cozy blanket and/or a book :SIGH: I’m about to be in heaven 😀

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

YAY! By this time next week we are supposed to be back into our normal rain and fall situation!!! This makes me VERY happy. This week is supposed to be in the mid 70’s and sunny.

This is a category weighing heavy on my mind as to how to handle the issues occurring within the Eagles Auxiliary and how much I want to deal with it. It’s one of those situations that needs to be rectified, but will be like a horror show to watch it unfold.

My dilemma is do I want to be the one to champion the cause to get the ball rolling or let it play out which will likely take months of bad feelings and inappropriate behavior by a self appointed “dictator” who is constantly overstepping her position by demanding people say please and thank you to her, but then turning around and commanding them to do things at her bidding instead of asking them to be involved, demanding people do things her way (instead of Robert’s Rules of Order) and doing their (i.e., the secretary) jobs her way like preparing an agenda that only SHE has pre-approved of in advance and forcing any NEW BUSINESS not pre-approved by her for the agenda to be tabled until the next meeting, rewriting decisions she doesn’t like, etc… BUT, everyone is walking on eggshells around her because she is such an unpredictable nightmare to be around and is someone they just don’t want to deal with. :SIGH: It is a VERY sad situation. Everyone is just trying to keep the peace and hope the situation works itself out.

My husband called this one though I’m sorry to say. He said before the election was ever even held that if she got elected she’d be trying to run the show and the whole facility before it was all over.

Within the Eagles organization her position, which she ran unopposed because NOBODY wanted to poke that hornet’s nest, is supposed to have only 2 main functions 1) facilitate our meetings and 2) be a tie-breaker vote NOT be the self appointed dictator she has made herself.

No one believed it would be a BIG deal for her in this position because it was so limited in duties. She is also not to head any committees, but can be a member of them, though once again she is controlling them all. At this point even the strong members are “afraid” to confront her when she is in the wrong and I think are just hoping to wait it out. Unfortunately, he was right and many members have “drunk the kool-aid” or stepped down all together to avoid confrontation. VERY SUPER SAD FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A MOTTO OF PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE.

The husband of the woman in question was overheard saying to her not to back down or “they” win. They in this case being me who has reportedly sided with the “other” side. What was my offense you wonder? I had the audacity to volunteer to take the minutes (something I am extremely qualified to do) for my friend who is the secretary while she is out having ankle replacement surgery and it was only for 2-3 meetings. And it truly was just to write down the meeting minutes and my friend would still have been doing the computer work from home. My bigger offense according to hubby is that I’m positive and capable and friendly plus I follow the rules and ask others about how they want things. The dictator sees this as a threat. This is a woman who in the beginning would walk up to people and say things like, “You don’t like me very much do you?” or order a drink at the bar and when the bartender asked for money would say things like “Find someone to buy it for me” and walk away…

Ironically, if I have “sided” with the other side, it’s of their own making by playing so many games. In reality I haven’t “sided” with other side but with the ENTIRE organization and used my talents where they were most needed at any given time, especially during the recent crisis and rebuild in the aftermath of the water main break. I might mention that she and her crony (yes I believe there is only one) did not lift a finger to help during the crisis.

Quick bite today of peach yogurt and 2 sips of coffee before I move to ice tea as I have projects and meetings all day at the Eagles to move towards this upcoming conference.

I’m in between books, but plan to start a couple after the conference is over this next weekend. I also have a couple new fall baking/recipe magazines to read and am waiting on my newest Taste of Home Special Delivery box which is sure to have a new cook book in it. I’m also waiting on a Season’s Best cook pamphlet from my Pampered Chef order.

It was a FUN week around here. Went to breakfast Friday morning with a good friend and then to lunch with hubby and to see a movie. After that a few friends surprised me with a big cake and balloons and party with drinks. And then I spent Saturday with one of them out playing, shopping and for a wonderful lunch.

• CHICKEN CHEESE PIE aka MEXICAN QUICHE
  
• BEEF TIPS IN ONION WINE SAUCE