Category: MENU PLANS

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 😀

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 😀

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 😀 You take walking for granted until something like this happens! 

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 😀

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

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

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 😀

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 😀 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 😀 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 😀

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
 COCONUT PEANUT CHICKEN with RICE
 GERMAN MEATBALLS & SAUERKRAUT
 PORK CHOPS & MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE
 FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES
 LEMON CHICKEN & HONEY LIME COLESLAW
 GRILLED CHICKEN & POTLUCK BAKED BEANS
DESSERT
 PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD SNACK CAKE
 CHAPEL SQUARES
GLUTEN FREE VANILLA CUPCAKES with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
 
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 😀 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 😀

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
 LEMON CHICKEN, MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE & PENNIES FROM HEAVEN CARROTS
RED BAKED BEANS & CRANBERRY BBQ CHICKEN
 FRENCH ONION CHICKEN & TOMATO ONION SALAD
CHICKEN BLT CASSEROLE
 CHEESY CHICKEN TOMATO BAKED ORZO & SAUTEED PEAS
 CHEESY POTATO SOUP & SOUR CREAM CHEDDAR BISCUITS
 SICILIAN SPAGHETTI
DESSERT
 COFFEE CAKE KNOTS
 
CHAPEL SQUARES
 

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!

 

 

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 2 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.9

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 started blogging over 15+ years ago as an outlet for the woes brought on by a house we were forced to rehab after discovering mold (that the previous owner knew about, but painted over) during a routine bathroom update. It was supposed to be our forever home, but little did we know God had other plans for us. Each journey led us somewhere else to help someone else or a new project like rehabbing my grandparent’s home after my cousin died. This too was supposed to be our “new’ forever home, but God again had yet more new plans for us.

All these years later we have been all over the country care taking first for my in-laws and then several other family members as well. Each time we questioned why we were in those places and each time there was am underlying reason like when we landed in Texas and I was matched up with the best Cancer center around who saved my life when I had Ovarian Cancer… or the wonderfully gifted Gastroenterologist that again saved my life when he had to remove my stomach during a routine hernia repair… God always had a reason being where we were.

At one point, early on in my blogging days I thought about jumping on the bandwagon and monetizing my blog and turning it into an income source…Let me just say I am SOOOOOO glad I didn’t do that. I believe it would have just taken the joy out of blogging for me. I still link up with a few meme parties and many have gone the monetized route and are just no fun to follow anymore 🙁 This is one of the reasons I’m choosing to do BLOG 365 along with Sandra. I will probably do a lot of Wordless Wednesdays along with some Thursday 13s and what I’m calling Silent Sundays in order to accomplish this, but I will do it 😀

So, for my own journey, to stay positive in this life, I’ll be adding a “Thought For The Day” category each week. Just a little something that speaks to me 😀 at the time. Most weeks it will probably have no commentary and be more like a Wordless Wednesday 😀

This week is a clone of last week 😀 gray, cloudy and foggy – yet another typical Pacific North West winter week full of bone chilling “wet” cold with highs in the 40’s (barely) and lows in the 30’s (definitely) 😀 It will be another week of layered turtlenecks and flannels with Levis and UGGs.

I started to “DE”decorate Christmas last Friday, but multiple spontaneous AND fun opportunities for me to procrastinate happened and now I HAVE to finish more quickly for my own sanity, but also a bit exhausted!

Toady is Apple Carrot and Pineapple toddler squeeze (they’re portable 😀 ) with some ice tea because of the early morning.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have SOOOOO much to do, but hubby has a SUPER early appointment today that requires me to drive him so I will get a LATE start to my day and week. I have de-decorating to finish followed by standard cleaning and vacuuming as well as several loads of laundry. I’m also downsizing as I go through EVERY tote, drawer and closet. I ran across a pretty good article about decluttering sentimental items that is helping quite a bit.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Depending on what I accomplish Monday and Tuesday I will probably go to town Wednesday or Thursday to do the weekly shopping and errands.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS this category will wait until next week…
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING My menu is planned through the weekend so at some time this week I will be taking a more serious look at the rest of January and February.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We’re still watching How I Met Your Mother reruns at night to go to sleep by
  • CABLE There are still some TCM movies to watch, but I got pretty caught up on the cooking shows and Hallmark movies.

I’m reading State of Shock, First Family #4, Fatal series #1 off shoot by Marie Force
MONDAY 1/9
TUESDAY 1/10
WEDNESDAY 1/11
THURSDAY 1/12
FRIDAY 1/13
SATURDAY 1/14
SUNDAY 1/15
DINNER
SICILIAN SPAGHETTI
 HAMBURGER STEAKS with CREAM HASHED POTATOES
 UNDONE CABBAGE ROLLS and BUTTERED CARROTS
 APPLE BALSAMIC CHICKEN and SOUTHERN CORNBREAD STUFFING
 LOADED HASH BROWN POTATO SOUP
RISOTTO CARBONARA
 OUT or C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT FRIDGE NIGHT
DESSERT
 BLUEBERRY POUND CAKE
 
 

We did happy hour with some neighbors last Saturday and their daughter and her 2 cats were visiting. KitKat and Blue are both super sweet and oh so soft, but Blue is a real snuggler!

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 1 of 2023 ~ BLOG 365.2

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 found these memes over the weekend and they really spoke to me. I couldn’t decide on just one so used both 😀 This is who I am striving to be.

It’s gray, cloudy and foggy – another typical Pacific North West winter week full of bone chilling “wet” cold with highs in the 40’s (barely) and lows in the 30’s (definitely) 😀 It will be another week of my layered turtlenecks and flannels with Levis and UGGs.

Starting 2023 with an open mind, grateful heart and positive attitude while hoping and praying for the best possible outcome, but still staying alert for the possible worst.

Not sure why I even do this category sometimes. This meal never really changes, but I have hopes that someday it will. I’ve been trying a few sips of coffee and tolerating it pretty well most days. I’m having a handful of Honey Nut Cheerios with it. While I’m not allergic to gluten, I am going to try going gluten free for the month of January in hopes that it may help alleviate some issues.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have the standard bedding and towels for a Monday morning and a bit of ironing to do on some blouses.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m scheduled for a tetanus booster on Wednesday and a pedicure on Thursday so will work any needed groceries and such into going into town for those appointments. I’m hoping the replacement parts come in for the warranty work on the car so we can get it dropped off. The parts were ordered before Christmas and then lost in last week’s ice storm so the wait for them began all over again.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS This is one of those weeks that is not worth the effort to try and call anyone because of the holiday. I’ll have the patience to wait until next week.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I started a new menu planner and have meals planned through the 15th, but am trying to only plan a couple weeks at a time. I have a dozen or so recipes that have been sitting in a pile next to my computer that need to be input into blog posts. I’ll use these to help get me started on Sandra’s new challenge of BLOG 365. So look soon for Molasses Snaps, Chocolate Snaps, Tomato Chicken Pasta, Panettone, Marry Me Chicken Made Simple, Char Sui Pork, Dutch Hash, Timeless Classic Sugar Cookies and Charred Carrots with APPLE BROWN BUTTER VINAIGRETTE, Cranberry Pound Cake, Apple Balsamic Chicken and Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls. 

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • CABLE The Rose parade is set to tape so we can watch it commercial free, Yellowstone, 1923, The Worst Cooks, Kid’s Baking Championship – I still have a couple Christmas movies to watch. We’ve also been watching a lot of TCM old movies (classics made many years before I was born, but that I had always heard of) during the holidays – The Caine Mutiny, The Best Years of Our Life, The Good Old Summertime and then for New Years we watched the Thin Man series of movies The Thin Man, After the Thin Man, Another Thin Man, The Song of the Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home and The Shadow of the Thin Man). I’d seen their clues in the crosswords, but never read the stories or seen the movies.

I FINALLY finished book #2 of The Wild Widows series by Marie force and began the Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. My friend gave me 4 other new titles yesterday that I’m going to research for later.
1/2 MONDAY
1/3 TUESDAY
1/4 WEDNESDAY
1/5 THURSDAY
1/6 FRIDAY
1/7 SATURDAY
1/8 SUNDAY
DINNER
 PAN SEARED CHICKEN, CHARRED CARROTS with APPLE BROWN BUTTER VINAIGRETTE
 SALSA VERDE CHICKEN SOUP & TWISTY ROLLS (I’m making SPLIT PEA SOUP & CORN BREAD earlier in the day for them to serve at the bar at the Eagles.
 C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT FRIDGE NIGHT
 HAMBURGER STEAKS with CREAMED HASHED POTATOES
 DECONSTRUCTED CABBAGE ROLLS & BUTTERED CARROTS
 APPLE BALSAMIC CHICKEN & SOUTHERN CORNBREAD DRESSING
 RISOTTO CARBONARA
DESSERT
CRANBERRY POUND CAKE
 
 

Saturday was cold, but we had a few hours of beautiful sunshine. We had lunch at our favorite Tavern and then went to feed the peacocks with all the stale food we had amassed. I LOVE this old Memorial Park and LOVE the beautiful peacocks. I also LOVE all the old buildings and have been trying to get a decent picture of this old cattle loader for quite some time.

Here’s a rare picture with me actually in it. My friend Niki and I had just finished wrapping all the packages for the Eagle’s adopted family we delivered just before Christmas. Being blonde I always look a bit washed out and LOL I always forget to take off my glasses 😀

The munchkins were here last night and we had a lot of fun! Allie in particular fell in love with the kittens all over again. If her dad would have allowed her, Ash and Fluffy would have gone home with her. 😀 She did get these great pictures of them. There’s a little glass reflection from the door, but not too bad.

I’ve already put a piece in the donation pile 😀

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 52 of 2022

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 is going to be my new motto!

How are you? I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas! I also hope you have time to just “be” this week and enjoy each other before we dive into the preparations for 2023.

I couldn’t resist! Christmas is 364 days away. BLOGMAS 2022 is over and BLOGMAS 2023 is only 327 days away.

While the rest of the country was on a blizzard watch and horrific Christmas travel weather we had an unusual “warming” trend here for Christmas weekend. Yesterday was the warmest – 55°, though still cold, Christmas we’ve had here in the Pacific North West (while we’ve been here) – no snow for us this year, but has been sooooooo foggy that it still feels cold and wet in your bones!

This week’s weather predictions have us back to actual rain and lots of it with the temperatures dropping back into our lower normal range of 30’s and 40’s.

I have tons of things going through my mind on what I want 2023 to look like. I’ve also been helping a friend get her side business going and wondering how much time I want to devote to that. After the 1st I’ll be getting back to my sorting and downsizing in preparation of the spring garage sale.

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday, EVERY MONDAY, loyally for all these years and so extensively helps keep me on track of my daily life as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for the current week. This now coupled with the yearly and quarterly lists I’m doing along with Jean have REALLY is helping get me back to my organized self.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll be getting back on schedule today with laundry especially – bedding, towels and outerwear. I deep cleaned just before Christmas so not much to be done except picking up the clutter.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS We’re I’ll figure out my list and go shopping on Friday.e supposed to get a couple inches of rain today so I plan to go nowhere! No real appointments or errands until 2023!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING My girlfriend gave me and old Oregon State Fair recipe book from 1983 AND one of those antique recipe boxes full of OLD vintage recipes that I like to collect. I’ve selected SEVERAL recipes from each and will create the next couple week’s menu around them.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
 Not much until next year when the network shows resume. I’ll finish up the Hallmark and Christmas movies over this next week.

12/26 MONDAY
12/27 TUESDAY
12/28 WEDNESDAY
12/29 THURSDAY
12/30 FRIDAY
12/31 SATURDAY
1/1 SUNDAY
DINNER
 JET TILA BEEF PHO
 DUTCH HASH
 SICILIAN SPAGHETTI with CARAMELIZED BALSAMIC ONIONS
BEEF & BEAN BAKE
 SALSA  VERDE CHICKEN SOUP
 BLACK EYED PEA CHILI our traditional New Year’s meal
 HAMBURGER STEAKS with CREAM HASHED POTATOES
DESSERT
 
CRANBERRY POUND CAKE
 
COFFEE CAKE KNOTS

All my pictures need editing, but I LOVE this fun one of my girlfriend’s front door where I left some goodies for her on Christmas Eve.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 51 of 2022

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

How is everyone? Are you all scurrying around like I am all of a sudden with only 6 days til Christmas? Everything was moving along just fine until we took our little trip that was supposed be no BIG deal.

Seems like ever since we got back everything has been altered – my time away from home has increased, my jam and baking time has decreased… which all resulted in me getting behind on posting BLOGMAS links and visiting blogs though I made a BIG dent in remedying that last night and will continue to get caught up tonight. Thank you Jean for playing along so much!

I even had a girlfriend text and ask if everything was okay because I was usually her first card received. I sat here last night trying to finish mine up. This might be the first year my cards have been late! 😀

The weather here has been BRRRRR cold with highs in the 30’s and the lows in the high 20’s. I REALLY don’t mind the cold, but it’s a WET cold here that gets into your bones! We went to the Timber Town Tinsel Town Electric parade on Saturday night that was supposed to begin at 7PM, but didn’t actually begin until 715PM. It wasn’t a very long parade, only about 45 minutes, but I was FROZEN by the time it was over and it was 24° when we got home!

We had a GREAT trip last week to SHORE ACRES to see the Holiday lights! We were there the Christmas before the COVID lockdown began and it was pouring down rain. Fortunately, this year it wasn’t raining, but it was COLD, BRR REALLY cold! The substitute rental had a beautiful location right on the bay. It also had VERY limited TV channels, but we were able to get NETFLIX and watched The Christmas Chronicles one evening while sitting by the fire.

The trip did set me back a bit on Christmas prep, but that’s okay. Several friends are quite ill and I filled in a few duties for them at our Eagles post also, but was happy to do it. A friend and I went clothes and toy shopping yesterday for the kids of the needy family the Auxiliary adopted for the holidays. We were able to get it all wrapped in the afternoon. Today we’re going to finish the food shopping and then deliver it all this afternoon.

I was supposed to be cooking tomorrow, again on Friday and next Tuesday for the Eagles, but unfortunately they have decided to close until the New Year due to so much illness happening amongst the members 🙁

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ve been deep cleaning this week getting ready the holidays.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS YAY I’m done until 2023.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Nothing this week except charity projects and baking for neighbor holiday plates.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Taking a break until 2023.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX Christmas Chronicles, Naughty & Nice
  • CABLE A few Hallmark movies and Christmas shows
  • CHRISTMAS MOVIES It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, The Polar Express, The Shop Around the Corner, It happened on 5th Avenue, Die Hard (and yes it’s a Christmas movie), Christmas Vacation, Elf, Love Actually…

This week is a fun read – Snowfall & Secrets by Kimmy Loth, a new to me author that I chose from a list on Bookbub for a free read 😀
12/ 19 BMONDAY
12/20 TUESDAY
12/21 WEDNESDAY
12/22 THURSDAY
12/23 FRIDAY
12/24 SATURDAY
12/25 SUNDAY
DINNER
 HAMBURGER STEAK & VAMPIRE SLAYER CHEDDAR CREAMY MAC & CHEESE
CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN & PEPPERED GRAVY with MASHED POTATOES
 APPLE BALSAMIC CHICKEN, SOUTHERN CORNBREAD & BUTTERED CARROTS
POT ROAST and ALL the TRIMMINGS
 HONEY THYME ROAST CHICKEN
 BLOOMING QUESADILLA RING
 PORCHETTA, SICILIAN SPAGHETTI
DESSERT
 
MORE PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
HOLIDAY JAM
MOONCAKES
 
PANETTONE

I met 2 really cool cats this past week. The gray and white is “Bella” from our time at the coast. Bella is evidently the resident neighborhood guest greeter. She was so friendly, sweet and soft. She just marched herself into the house like she belonged there 😀 The black and white is KitKat, an older cat and my neighbor’s daughter’s cat who is here visiting through the holidays. KitKat is even sweeter and even softer! 😀 I’m still editing the pictures from the coast and the parade, but hope to get that post up very soon.

links will be up soon 😀

  • PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
  • SALISBURY STEAK & POTATO SKILLET

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 50 of 2022

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 will be pretty quick this morning as we’re leaving this morning for our Christmas trip to the coast. There is a small craft advisory and wind predicted at the coast as well as a 10 degree temperature drop so I’ve packed accordingly. I even packed an umbrella in case it does rain. Weather around here can change at the drop of a hat 😀

We almost weren’t going to be able to go. The vacation rental we rented and prepaid for last month canceled on us. 🙁 Fortunately, the management company is really good though. 🙂 They found us another rental, still on the water, but actually bigger and better AND they covered the price difference! So, we’re really excited about these couple days away.

One of the reasons to go to the coast for a couple days and have reservations to see Shore Acres. It’s a wonderful light display that has been closed down since COVID. We went the Christmas before COVID and it was great, but POURING down rain. So, I’m REALLY looking forward to this year. It’s supposed to be REALLY cold, but at least the rain/snow is supposed to hold off until after we return home. I’ll post pictures later this week.

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday, EVERY MONDAY, loyally for all these years and so extensively helps keep me on track of my daily life as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for the current week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING After I get back on Thursday I’ll finish cleaning up from all the sorting I’ve been doing.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Thursday I have a couple appointments in town and will get caught up then,
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Thinking of making a HUGE return to the more basic recipes in the coming new year.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We finished the first season of Wednesday and found it really fun. We are going to finish NCIS next – we’re at season 16
  • CABLE With most shows in winter hiatus I’m catching up on Christmas movies and cooking shows.

A favorite fun author I read gave a us a fun little read for Christmas if we downloaded her new app which will make getting her books easier for all. I’m going to start it for our little trip.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 OUT OF TOWN
 OUT OF TOWN
OUT OF TOWN
CRISPY PORK MEDALLIONS with APPLE HORSERADISH SAUCE & BROCCOLI HASH
 SALISBURY STEAK POTATO SKILLET
 APPLE BALSAMIC CHICKEN, SOUTHERN CORNBREAD & BUTTERED CARROTS
 WHITE BEAN SOUP & CHEDDAR BISCUITS
DESSERT
 
 
PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
 

One of favorite places is this 124 year old tavern.The exposed brick walls inside and out are part of the charm that makes this old building so unique.

We’ve been coming here for the past 10 years and through 4 owners. The BEST thing is that through all those owners, not one of them changed the menu! They have THE BEST sandwiches and all the recipes are still made the same way despite the change in ownership over the years.

And I took a Christmassy Highland Cow painting class yesterday. I’ll do the fine touches later this week as I ran out of time.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 49 of 2022

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

What can I say, but

It truly is! The bird bath freezes over nightly and at this point won’t truly thaw until spring. This past week we have seen rain, sleet, snow, wind and more weather pattern changes than I can count. This next week is supposed to be more of the same. Now that most of the Christmas decorations are up, I’m okay with all the weather, but it wasn’t too much fun last week going from sun to wind to rain and snow! 😀 Turtlenecks, flannels and hoodies are the layers of the season 😀

The Christmas season is truly here coupled with winter. I’m trying to get a more concise calendar going so that I can stay on top of the homemade gifts I’m working on. Mornings have become my “inside” work time because of the cold, so my breakfast is generally mid morning and yogurt and a half cup of coffee.

I’ve ended up a bit busy this past week and trying hard to stay on top of the BLOGMAS posts also. Here is the link to BLOGMAS 2022 that is up to date. I hope you get a chance to join in where you can.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a deep clean, but then started sorting again so I need to dust and vacuum again. I need to do the bedding laundry today also.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Groceries are good, but I do need to pick up a couple stray items when I go in for a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. There is also a local craft fair on Friday that I want to get to.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I’m still working on setting up next year’s calendar and organizing some end of the year files. I did a painting class yesterday for a second snowman, the one with the cardinal, but need to finish the trees and few other touch ups. Next week is the Highland cow that I’m really looking forward to.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING December menu is done through the 15th, but as always, especially at this time of year I’ve made it really flexible.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX – We started the new “Wednesday” series from Tim Burton based on the Addams Family and are enjoying it.
  • CABLE – COOKING SHOWS The Big Bake, Christmas Baking, Holiday Wars, Christmas Cookies, Guy’s Game Night, Girl Meets Farm COMEDIES Young Sheldon and Ghosts POLICE/MEDICAL/DRAMAS NCIS series – regular, LA and Hawaii, Chicago series – Med, Fire and PD, Blue Bloods, FBI series – regular, Most Wanted and International, Law & Order series – regular and SVU, Rookie & Rookie Feds, The Resident, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, Fire Country, Yellowstone and Tulsa King  SYFY/FANTASY Quantum Leap, La Brea, The Walking Dead just finished, but not really as they have several spin offs beginning in 2023 REALITY Amazing Race – I like all the teams this year so am pleased with the final four going into the finale HALLMARK Christmas movies

I’m still bound and determined to finish reading Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne Maclean. It’s been a really slow go though despite the fact that I do love this author. I had trouble getting into the story as she wove through the back story flashbacks over a couple decades. I’m now three quarters of the way through so am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Not to mention I have been falling asleep as my head hits the pillow each night, so I haven’t read much at all lately.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 APPLE BALSAMIC CHICKEN, SOUTHERN CORNBREAD & BUTTERED CARROTS
 SALISBURY STEAK POTATO SKILLET
 HAMBURGER STEAK with RED PEA & ONION GRAVY with BUTTERED ROASTED POTATOES
 OVERNIGHT MAC & CHEESE and HAMBURGERS
 HONEY THYME ROAST CHICKEN
 BLOOMING QUESADILLA RING
 OUT
DESSERT
 
 HOLIDAY JAM and CANDIED JALAPENOS MAKING DAY
 

My Christmas Cacti are blooming 😀

The trellis fell victim to a wind storm and the kittens decided it was a new jungle gym 😀

Such a pretty idea if you use liquid laundry detergent…

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 48 of 2022

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

Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror (thankfully because we wont do that again – going out was a mistake), Christmas decorating done and now it’s time to continue to focus on downsizing while also moving forward on organizing for the holidays and the new year.

The weather has been iffy, though we had a nice Thanksgiving day. Now it’s truly turning to winter with several inches of snow predicted for later this week, but we’ll see. The last time we had significant snow this early in the season was 2013. No matter what it does, I’m prepared with my layering and some new turtlenecks and flannels.

Doing Happy Homemaker Monday, EVERY MONDAY, loyally for all these years and so extensively helps keep me on track of my daily life as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for the current week.

In case I never mentioned it, I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I decorated early and I began BLOGMAS the day after Thanksgiving. Here’s the link if you want to see the posts or better yet, join in.  Just leave me a comment and I’ll know. I really enjoy being present in the season!

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a deep clean, but then started sorting again so I need to dust and vacuum again. I need to do the bedding laundry today also.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby has a post-op follow up appointment from last week’s eye surgery on Wednesday and I’ll do the shopping on Thursday. Friday (pending snow) I’m going with a girlfriend to the annual Christmas Fair at the fairgrounds and then out to lunch. I missed the Fair in 2013 due to snow so hope it holds off this year until after the weekend.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS I’m working on setting up next year’s calendar and organizing some end of the year files.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve prepared a pending December menu, but as always, especially at this time of year I’ve made it flexible.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We started the new “Wednesday” series from Tim Burton based on the Addams Family and are enjoying it. I always wonder what goes on in minds like Tim Burton or Stephen King.
  • CABLE COOKING SHOWS The Big Bake, Christmas Baking, Holiday Wars, Christmas Cookies, Guy’s Game Night, Girl Meets Farm COMEDIES Young Sheldon and Ghosts POLICE/MEDICAL/DRAMAS NCIS series – regular, LA and Hawaii, Chicago series – Med, Fire and PD, Blue Bloods, FBI series – regular, Most Wanted and International, Law & Order series – regular and SVU, Rookie & Rookie Feds, The Resident, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, Fire Country, Yellowstone and Tulsa King  SYFY/FANTASY Quantum Leap, La Brea, The Walking Dead just finished, but not really as they have several spin offs beginning in 2023 REALITY Amazing Race – I like all the teams this year so am pleased with the final four going into the finale HALLMARK Christmas movies

I’m bound and determined to finish reading Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne Maclean. It’s been a really slow go though despite the fact that I do love this author. I have had trouble getting into this story as she weaves through the back story flashbacks. I’m only about halfway through. Not to mention I have been falling asleep as my head hits the pillow each night, so I haven’t read much at all lately.

11/28 MONDAY
11/29 TUESDAY
11/30 WEDNESDAY
12/1 THURSDAY
12/2 FRIDAY
12/3 SATURDAY
12/4 SUNDAY
DINNER
 RISOTTO CARBONARA
 TOMATO CHICKEN PASTA
 BALSAMIC CHICKEN WINGS
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
 PEKING CHICKEN and MANDARIN PANCAKES
AUTUMN CHOWDER and FLAKY CREAM BISCUITS
 PIZZA??
DESSERT
PUMPKIN BUTTER CRUMB CAKE
 
COFFEE CAKE KNOTS

We found this really neat antique saw that was laser cut to look like a Christmas tree when we were at the tree farm to buy our wreath. I fell in love with it!!!

And the kittens are just so dang cute huddling together to stay warm. I made them a little cave like flannel lined tote which they do sleep in at night, but they like to huddle on top during the day when it’s light out. Momma and all 5 kittens just make one BIG fur ball.

Still so true even now in 2022

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS week 47 of 2022

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

Last week’s predicted storm for this week stalled and is now due next weekend. So, our night times have been clear with bitterly low cold temps, at least for here!  Friday night got down to 23°. Lately it’s been the bone chilling cold, you know the wet cold that sinks into your actual bones and keeps you cold. I’ll take single digit temperatures any day, if they’re the dry cold like we used to get back in the U.P. 😀 Mind you I’m not complaining as we like the cold and I’m more than thankful to NOT be in Buffalo New York having to clear away 6 feet of snow!

This week is supposed to have highs in the high 40’s and lows in the low 30’s with the “S” word working its way into the forecast for next weekend which is still a bit early for us, but I do remember early December 2013… I’m still layering BIG time. I’m hoping the storm holds off until at least Saturday afternoon so hubby and I can get the outside Christmas decorations done on Friday and Saturday.

I’m working my way through trying on each and every piece of clothing and making piles to donate. And because it has been so freaking cold outside I’m taking this opportunity to spring clean early for “THE GREAT CLUTTER CLEAN OUT” and continue sorting and amassing things to go in the spring garage sale. It really does feel good to be FINALLY downsizing things once and for all.

Are you all ready for Thanksgiving? Are you having a large gathering or just a small get together? Turkey or something else on your menu? We are actually going out for the first time ever and believe it or not I’m looking forward to it.


This meme really spoke to me. As a child my dad was a crucial part of my holidays and my love of cooking, plus his birthday was just before Thanksgiving every year.

This is the 30th year of celebrating the holiday season without him 🙁 He was such a BIG part of the celebrations. He was the organizer and usually the cook as we generally hosted.

You never get over the loss of a loved one, you just move on, but he was so young! I still use some of his menus every year for the holidays and with going out this year will REALLY miss them, especially his sourdough herb dressing and giblet gravy. I recreated the dressing recipe several years ago at my brother’s request and I think I nailed it!

As always hot water, but I’m trying oatmeal again because it’s been so bitterly cold!llllllllllll

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a deep clean last Thursday as we had friends coming for dinner so things are pretty tidy, but I do have a couple loads of laundry to do.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS Hubby is having eye surgery on tomorrow and we asked for as late of a surgery and arrival time as possible because it is in a town over an hour away. It will be a bit icy that morning because it’s been so bitterly cold. BUT, we were given an arrival time of 7AM!!!! Everyone I speak with keeps passing the buck to someone else! It’s so frustrating dealing with anything/anyone medical these days! Besides that I have just a couple of errands to do this week and I’ll do them on Wednesday when I go for my pedicure. Friday our local Christmas tree farm opens and I will go and select a couple wreaths for the front door area. Saturday is “shop small” day downtown and I will go and do my part for shopping local. I hope to finish my Christmas shopping.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS Not much this week with the holiday! I even had problems reaching departments on last Friday! One “remote” call center operator for the VA told me I should wait and call back in 2 weeks right after she told me she couldn’t help me scheduling a couple appointments and that was after I’d been on hold 20 minutes! It is soooooooooo frustrating lately!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m still trying to keep it simple and work from the freezer and pantry. I also ran across several more cookbooks with recipes marked that I want to try soon so will be building next week’s menu from those.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX NCIS reruns – we’re up to the end of season 15
  • AMAZON PRIME How I Met Your Mother reruns
  • CABLE The new show Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone started last night and we’re going to give a try. . COOKING SHOWS The Big Bake, Christmas Baking, Christmas Cookies, Guy’s Game Night, Girl Meets Farm COMEDIES Young Sheldon and Ghosts POLICE/MEDICAL/DRAMAS NCIS series – regular, LA and Hawaii, Chicago series – Med, Fire and PD, Blue Bloods, FBI series – regular, Most Wanted and International, Law & Order series – regular and SVU, Rookie & Rookie Feds, The Resident, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, Fire Country, Yellowstone and Tulsa King  SYFY/FANTASY Quantum Leap, La Brea, The Walking Dead REALITY Amazing Race HALLMARK Christmas movies

I have been falling asleep as my head hits the pillow each night, so I haven’t read much at all lately. I’m still working on Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne Maclean.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
 GRILLED CHEESE & BOOZY TOMATO SOUP
BALSAMIC CHICKEN WINGS
THANKSGIVING DINNER @ the PARROTT HOUSE
 ANITPASTO SQUARES
TOMATO CHICKEN PASTA
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN 
DESSERT
 CARMELITAS

I was able to get these cushions “re” wrapped for winter storage yesterday. Momma cat and the kittens were trying to stay warm during this cold spell and tore up the original wrappings. They like this window area in the corner of the patio. There’s a floor vent near there and I think it actually keeps them a bit warm.

We went and fed the peacocks a bunch of stale bread crumbs and granola over the weekend. They seemed super hungry and appreciative too.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 46 of 2022 with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS

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

Let’s face it, life has been strange these past few years since COVID and such. When I ran across this one from Sweatpants & Coffee, one of my favorite memes, I realized it was THE PERFECT sentiment to express how I feel, and I bet many others do too.

By my doing Happy Homemaker Monday, EVERY MONDAY, loyally for all these years AND so extensively it has helped keep me on track with my daily life. It truly summarizes the previous week and lays out a fairly concise plan for the current week. This helps me the most whenever my week is too busy to think or to get everything done or when I think, hmmm what did I get done last week. BUT, I couldn’t do it without my coffee 😀

I tried returning to coffee every day for a few weeks, but am back mostly to hot water with my morning yogurt.

We have another cloudy week of low temps 40’s, with next to no rain so I’m hoping to get a little sun time one afternoon to get a Christmas paint project done. I just need ONE SINGLE hour above 50! Lows at night will be in the high 20’s and low 30’s. It’ll be a lots of layering (Levi’s, turtlenecks, flannels…) and UGGs week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING ALL up to date – I did a deep clean yesterday including most of the laundry after Rizzo went home. I just have our bedding to do.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS We have friends coming for dinner on Thursday so I’ll go in on Tuesday to do the grocery shopping.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS & PROJECTS We canceled the trip we had planned for the end of the month to Silverton – the traffic staying at the hotel was going to be a nightmare because the light show and German market were also on the same grounds with a single point of entry. We found a better deal for what will ultimately be a better trip, closer to home AND for less money on top of it going to see Shore Acres! It’s the first time it will be open since COVID! I took a Santa Gnome painting class last week and my friend is putting together a paint and sip party for Saturday at the Eagles post. Fortunately the picture is something completely different, autumn corn, and not another gnome 😀  I also signed up for 2 classes in December (neither of which is a gnome) that I’m also looking forward to.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on December and January’s menus, but have yet to really pin it down.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX NCIS reruns – we’re up to the middle of season 15
  • AMAZON PRIME How I Met Your Mother reruns
  • CABLE The new season of Yellowstone started last night along with the new show Tulsa King starting next Sunday. COOKING SHOWS The Big Bake, Christmas Baking, Christmas Cookies, Guy’s Game Night, Girl Meets Farm COMEDIES Young Sheldon and Ghosts POLICE/MEDICAL DRAMAS NCIS series – regular, LA and Hawaii, Chicago series – Med, Fire and PD, Blue Bloods, FBI series – regular, Most Wanted and International, Law & Order series – regular and SVU, Rookie & Rookie Feds, The Resident, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, Fire Country  SYFY/FANTASY Quantum Leap, La Brea, The Walking Dead REALITY Amazing Race HALLMARK Christmas movies

While I don’t always stay asleep, I have been falling asleep as my head hits the pillow each night. So, I haven’t read much at all lately. I’m still working on Beyond the Moonlit Sea by Julianne Maclean.
11/14 MONDAY
11/15 TUESDAY
11/16 WEDNESDAY
11/17 THURSDAY
11/18 FRIDAY
11/19 SATURDAY
11/20 SUNDAY
DINNER
 MEXICAN QUICHE
 TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA with LEMON THYME BROCCOLI
CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
DINNER for FRIENDS: BLESSMOSAS, CARAMEL APPLETINIS, THANKSGIVING MARGARITAS, WINTER PORK ROAST, JACKET POTATOES, SALAD
CHICKEN WAFFLES
TUSCAN CHICKEN MOZZARELLA CASSEROLE & SALAD
 RAILROAD SAMMIES with HOMEMADE GIARDINEIRA
DESSERT
 CARMELITAS
SWEET LIME HATCH CHILE CHEESECAKE and KEY LIME CRANBERRY PIE
CRANBERRY VODKA for CHRISTMAS GIFTS

The munchkin’s munchkin went home last Saturday. She is such a sweetheart and easy to have around. We were sad to see her go. 🙁 But happy to see her comfortable back with her favorite munchkin at home.

This one is just a funny. I’m too much of a perfectionist to ever do this and I do fold my fitted sheets nice and neatly. In fact I find it quite easy, though it is still a pain in the neck 😀