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.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite being busy, I’m actually caught up on both laundry and cleaning 😀 GROCERIES & ERRANDS I did the grocery store yesterday and have no other errands except a doctor appointment and hair cut later this week. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS SO much to do, but am kinda waiting to hear about one uncle in particular that may influenece things this week. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING totally up in the air right now

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Christmas movies and baking shows primarily along with catching up on FEAR the Walking Dead and Justified

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

	MONDAY 11/13	TUESDAY 11/14	WEDNESDAY 11/15	THURSDAY 11/16	FRIDAY 11/17	SATURDAY 11/18	SUNDAY 11/19
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
DINNER	CHARCUTERIE SPREAD FOR CRAFT NIGHT	BAKED ITALIAN MEATBALLS & PASTA with VODKA SAUCE	BRISKET BLACK BEAN CHILI	CHICKEN TEMPURA & SALAD	MEATLOAF, MAC & CHEESE and ROASTED CARROTS	CORN/YOYO clean out fridge or you’re on your own	SPINACH ARTICHOKE CHICKEN
	JEWELRY CHRISTMAS TREES					PILLOW PAINTING with a FRIEND
DESSERT	APPLE CORNBREAD CRISP and CARMELITAS and MAPLE BACON BARS		COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES

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.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’m working on the baseboards and carpet edges that collect the dust that vacuums just don’t reach. GROCERIES & ERRANDS just a few for myself. My friend that had ankle replacement surgery is now in a walking boot and overjoyed with being a bit independent again. I need to get to town and get a few things for tomorrow’s Eagles dinner that I’m now subbing in for as the regular cook for Tuesday will be away. Her husband is having surgery later today for a bladder cancer recurrence – please keep Robert in your prayers. We’re having Creamy Rustic Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers which will be perfect for this weather!! PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made my way through another stack of notes and filing 😀 RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to sit down this week and plan out the rest of the year with intention.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Christmas movies and baking shows seem to be on the forefront now that we’ve cleaned out the DVR and caught up on the summer things.

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

 

	11/6 MONDAY	11/7 TUESDAY	11/8 WEDNESDAY	11/9 THURSDAY	11/10 FRIDAY	11/11 SATURDAY	11/12 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH & DINNER	SIRLOIN CAP & GERMAN DUMPLINGS	CREAMY TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE DIPPERS (I’m filling in for a friend at the Eagles whose husband had surgery yesterday)	BEEF STEW & CRUSTY SOURDOUGH	CHICKEN WINGS & POTATO SALAD	YOYO / CORN YOU’RE on YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT since my girlfriend and I will be out of town visiting some craft fairs in a neighboring town an hour away	OUT with FRIENDS TO a FAVORITE RESTAURANT & AXE THROWING EVENING 😀	YOYO / CORN YOU’RE on YOUR OWN or CLEAN OUT FRIDGE NIGHT I’ll be at a fundraiser for the Eagles MOST of the day
DESSERT	WALNUT POLVORONES		APPLE CORN CRISP

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.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did a serious deep clean, baseboards and all, in the bedroom over the weekend and got all caught up on laundry. GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be going to town Wednesday and Thursday to help my girlfriend with her appointments after her ankle replacement. She still can’t put ANY weight on it for another month. PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m working on some stacks and making headway. RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to have the time to get down to the nitty gritty in sorting out recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Still waiting on the “regular” season to begin, but am enjoying getting caught up on cooking shows and old movies.

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.

	10/30 MONDAY	10/31 TUESDAY	11/1 WEDNESDAY	11/2 THURSDAY	11/3 FRIDAY	11/4 SATURDAY	11/5 SUNDAY
BREAKFAST	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT	HOT WATER & YOGURT
LUNCH	BONELESS WING LEFT OVERS	TUNA SANDS	out	out	??	??	??
DINNER	CHICKEN CHILI DIP ENCHILADAS	TACO TUESDAY	CHICKEN POTPIE GALETTE	TACO BOWLS	BACON MAC & CHEESE CORN BREAD	CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD	HAWAIIAN LEMON CHICKEN
DESSERT		CARMELITAS

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