HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & RECIPE LINKS week 27 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.183

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

WEEKEND RECAP

This was supposed to be super brief as we are still away having a fabulous time on the coast with beautiful weather, at least weather we like  – cool, cloudy, 60’s, breezy… Thanks to a dear friend we had the opportunity to spend several carefree days in the coastal resort community of Ocean Shores. But, I couldn’t sleep and was ups so early I found quite a bit to say.

We left last Thursday after my eye doctor appointment to avoid the Friday traffic. Well, that didn’t work. Between construction and just way too many people, traffic was still a nightmare, just not as bad as it would have been on Friday. We ended up in a cute little and colorful town for the night.

Friday we trekked down to Cape Disappointment that has 2 light houses and seriously earned its name for more reasons than the internet will tell you. 😀  We then crossed one of our favorite bridges to Astoria, home of the Goonies where we visited a favorite antique store, but didn’t buy anything for a change and had a fabulous late lunch/dinner at Astoria Brewing Company before checking in at Ocean Shores. Such a beautiful place and what a view! We also had a momma deer and her fawn that spent the evenings in front of our balcony.

Saturday we spent at the Sand & Sawdust festival followed by a little antiquing in junk stores and then beach combing in the afternoon at low tide. We found odd things to buy this trip like a vintage pair of pinking shears that hubby is going to oil for me and 3 OLD knobs for a set of drawers I already have as well as an OLD rusty hand saw that hubby will clean up for me so I can paint it for a Christmas tree. I LOVE the new architectural salvage company we found.

Sunday found us having our coffee with having a bit of a storm and turbulent waves that sounded glorious by the fireplace while we had the sliding door open. The weather was such that we were certainly glad we had opted for indoor activities which included a coastal drive where we encountered an odd “new” (built in 2005) little town, Sea Brook, that is a planned community resembling Pleasantville or home of the Stepford Wives or maybe the Truman Show or even the fictional town of Stars Hollows from the Gilmore Girls in a location previously abandoned by the navy after WWII and left off maps for years as well as a visit to make a deposit at the local casino for a friend LOL. Here’s an article that really spells out that odd little town. We also had brunch/lunch at a fun little spot called, Brunch 101. Oh my was the food awesome. This was half of an amazing chicken and biscuits Benedict that hubby and I shared. But I LOVE their motto! “Brunch without mimosas is just a sad late breakfast”!

Unfortunately, today we will be saying goodbye to Ocean Shores and heading homeward, but will stop somewhere tonight near a few towns we like that have some great antiquing.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Can you believe it’s July already? It seems like the days are running on double time. I’m not ready for July!!!!! For heaven’s sake it’s only 177 days until Christmas!!!!

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

The weather is glorious here, but will get warmer and warmer as we trek towards home. I see at home we will finally and consistently reach the 80’s this week, so I’ll enjoy the 50’s-60’s here as long as I can.

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • There is a cribbage tournament this next weekend that I will be shopping for on Tuesday on our way home, but with the holiday I’m not planning much else this week except trying to get a hold of the primary doctors office to process a necessary referral to the ophthalmologist.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • Whatever taped while we were away. I know Christmas in July started on Hallmark and the Summer Baking Championship will be on there.

READING TIME

I’m about two thirds through Phillipa Nefri Clark’s House at Angel’s Beach. I decided to wait on the The Memory Thief until we get back – just seemed too heavy for a vacation read.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

7/1 MONDAY
7/2 TUESDAY
7/3 WEDNESDAY
7/4 THURSDAY
7/5 FRIDAY
7/6 SATURDAY
7/7 SUNDAY
DINNER
 OUT
 TACO TUESDAY
 MEATLOAF & SAUER POTATOES
 HOBO PACKS on the GRILL
CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT CORN/YOYO
CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT CORN/YOYO  
CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT CORN/YOYO
DESSERT
 
 
BUTTER BISCUIT CHERRY COBBLER
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

This is a wide open category this week and if you have been following me on Facebook or Instagram you know I’m really behind in posting pictures 😀 so I’ll just give a couple of the highlights from this weekend – A couple of sunsets from our balcony, a foggy rainy landscape, Irwin the friendly raccoon who was living in the boulders I was crawling on to get a lighthouse picture, the town hall from the cute little town of Sea Brook.

 

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & RECIPE LINKS week 26 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.176

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

WEEKEND RECAP

After working so much and doing the auxiliary dinner at the Eagles last Friday we went for a lazy weekend. We visited a few garage sales. I cleaned and did some laundry, read a little, worked on menus and recipes, but nothing strenuous or that used a lot of brain power.

OH MY, it really just hit me that we are almost literally 1/2 way through the year!!! Can you believe there are only 191 days left in this entire year of 366 days!! Or in realer terms, Christmas Eve is 6 months from today. 😀

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Lows in the 50’s here and highs in the 70’s here at home. We’re going north to the coast though for the end of the week and it’s supposed to be in the low 60’s during the day and low 50’s at night so no complaints here!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING ALL caught up as of last night, but you know how laundry is 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS None other than the Eagle’s shopping on Wednesday before we go.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Nothing that won’t wait until next week 😀
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Right now I’m planned through the end of July, but open to changes.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We watched ATLAS with Jennifer Lopez which was quite good and LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND with Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke that was just plain weird and even a bit disturbing.
  • I’m also watching the SUMMER BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP and GUY’S ROAD TRIP on the food network.
  • We’ve also been binge rewatching EUREKA and COACH at night.

READING TIME

I finished Marie Force’s State of Suspense last night and will start Emily Conlin’s The Memory Thief tonight.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀 With leaving on Thursday for a short trip it’s a pretty basic menu this week.

6/24 MONDAY
6/25 TUESDAY
6/26 WEDNESDAY
6/27 THURSDAY
6/28 FRIDAY
6/29 SATURDAY
6/30 SUNDAY
DINNER
 GREEN CHILE BEEF CALDILLO and REFRIED BEANS
 CAJUN CABBAGE and SALAD
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator or your on your own 😀
 OOT
 OOT
 OOT
OOT
DESSERT
 
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I’ve been cat/house sitting since Thursday for a neighbor. KitKat and I had a great time together. My English Lavender and Calla Lillies are looking absolutely gorgeous this week. The bees LOVE them! I have rarely seen a spotted cucumber beetle, let alone get a picture of one. They are considered BIG pests, but are so unique looking. And my Clematis are looking really nice also with HUGE purple blossoms.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & RECIPE LINKS week 25 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.169

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

WEEKEND RECAP

Friday night we were supposed to go to a local winery, Joseph Jane (who has one of my all time favorites, Pink Panik) to meet friends for wine slushies and brick fired pizzas, but they bailed so we did too and will try again in a few weeks after we get back from our trip. Then on Saturday the temperature dropped A LOT! (high was 55°) and it rained off and on so I got the baking done for the Eagles event, researched some recipes and planned our upcoming trip. I actually pulled out a hoodie and then yesterday was Father’s Day and hubby got to choose everything 😀 which did NOT include the father’s day event at the Eagles this year, but I did make a pan of pecan pie bars for them to have. Hubby decided he wanted to exploring so we went down to the river as we hadn’t been there much since the Archie fire a few years ago and ordered our favorite sub sandwiches (the FLY FISHERMAN and the SWIFT WATER SUB) from a favorite little hole in the wall trading post on the way home.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Whenever I read the title for this section a Christmas song pops into my head! “The weather outside is frightful”…, but in reality it is the BEST time of the year weather wise, at least in my neck of the woods. I absolutely LOVE this time of year when the weather is just about as perfect as possible.

Temperatures are mostly in the 70’s during the day, but still getting down into the low 50’s at night… ABSOLUTELY my PERFECT weather. BTW since I brought it up, it’s time to start those summer Christmas projects so they’re done in time!

😂

ON MY MIND

I’m making a list of all the things I have been putting on the back burner and trying really hard to get back to my organized self! My biggest need is blocking out section of time to make this happen. July seems to be the time this will happen after my obligations are done at the Eagles and we have gotten back from our trip.

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING All caught up!
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have to have a low pressure sensor checked today so will pick up some groceries while I’m in town.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m beginning to see my way through a couple piles of paperwork.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve been planning a summer menu, but the cold this weekend kind of left me lacking the energy to plan much for next week.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
We watched a wide and varied range of things this past week, EVERYTHING FROM DISNEY+ Marvel movies (MOBIUS and LOGAN) to old classics like CHARADE with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart in ROPE by Alfred Hitchcock. I also watched quite a few cooking shows – GUY’S ROAD TRIP, MASTER CHEF, MARY MAKES IT EASY

READING TIME

I finished Jana DeLeon’s Baskets and Beignets so am down to 2 books which is more manageable as I seem to  binge read anyway – Marie Force’s State of Suspense and Philippa Nefri Clark’s The House at Angel’s Beach.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

6/17 MONDAY
6/18 TUESDAY
6/19 WEDNESDAY
6/20 THURSDAY
6/21 FRIDAY
6/22 SATURDAY
6/23 SUNDAY
DINNER
 TERIYAKI CHICKEN MEATBALLS with RICE NOODLES
 BEEF TIPS IN BALSAMIC SAUCE over GREEN BEANS
CARIBBEAN CHICKEN with PINEAPPLE SALSA
 SALISBURY STEAK, SAUER MASHED POTATOES & GLAZED CARROTS
 YAY!!! LAST CHEF NIGHT AT THE EAGLES!!
 FIRECRACKER CHICKEN with CRISPY PARMESAN POTATOES
PULLED PORK ROLLS & SALAD
DESSERT
 
 
CHOCOLATE CHERRY DOODLES
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Friday afternoon was absolutely beautiful! We had an absolutely gorgeous and unusual double halo rainbow around the sun. From what I read this usually indicates that it is caused by ice crystals when the sun or moon refracts off them in a thin veil of cirrus clouds. It also said snow or ice is coming. We didn’t get either, but did get a severe drop in temperature and rain 🤣

Trees and the landscape are FINALLY trying to grow back after the devastating Archie Fire a few years back.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & RECIPE LINKS week 24 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.162

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 dear friends. Summer is quickly approaching and I still have so much I want to do for spring! The weather has FINALLY turned nice here on a consistent basis and I have FINALLY packed away the flannels and jackets. Though I do have a sweatshirt in the car for those places that are now cranking the air conditioning so high it’s like a meat locker.

Highs in the mid 70’s with lows in the mid 40’s – my FAVORITE combination of temperatures! So today will be my most comfy levis, a plaid blouse and flip flops.

I’m adapting a new attitude and trying extremely hard to NOT to let the idiots, blowhards and the like affect me. The “changing of the guard” is going to be hard for me to adapt to at the Eagles. Those few “in charge” as of June are either repeats from the past with serious egos and attitudes that aren’t good leaders or they tend to drink too much and spout off orders and rude comments to people or they have zero idea what it’s all about. Worse yet are the ones who were talked into filling a vacancy so we can keep the doors open, yet they aren’t either qualified to fill the slot, too easy to be pushed around by the blowhards or they don’t know how much work it will be and here we sit waiting for it to all fall apart, because it has before with these same people in charge. I am prepared to turn in my duties and find new avenues to donate my time. A couple friends and I had “bets” on when the first would fall. I wish we’d actually bet money. My bet was for 1 week and the first of the five resigned last night. 🙁 Sad, but true.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a load of sheets to do and a pile of ironing
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS / PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS Taco Tuesday, Eagles Bar and Kitchen Shopping
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS Drinks and pizza at a favorite winery with a friend on Friday, find a matching fabric for some quilted place mats I’m working on, buy a birthday present for a close friend. Make reservations for the day before and after a trip we were recently gifted at the end of the month.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on a summer menu plan for some lighter dishes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • AMAZON PRIME ~ Time Changer, From Time to Time, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop
  • CABLE ~ Cooking shows ~ Summer Baking Championship, Girl Meets Farm, Mary Makes It Easy, Best Bite in Town

I went from not reading at all to having 3 books at once going. I’m reading Marie Force’s State of Suspense, Jana DeLeon’s Baskets and Beignets as well as Philippa Nefri Clark’s The House at Angel’s Beach.

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD
 PERUVIAN CHICKEN with SALT & VINEGAR POTATO SALAD
 GRILLED CHICKEN PEACH SALAD
 CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR or YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN
 OUT
 STRAWBERRY JALAPENO CHICKEN with SALAD
BRUSCHETTA GRILLED CHICKEN and SALAD
DESSERT
 
 
 
PECAN BARS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY & RECIPE LINKS week 23 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.155

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! Can you believe we are in June already? This year is zooming by! There is so much I had hope to have already accomplished by this time, yet here we are almost to summer and I haven’t. For me, it was our lack of a real spring this year and the “extended” wintertime that seems to be holding me back. 😂 At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.🤣 I do have the garden beds planted FINALLY! and yesterday’s rain seems to be helping them settle in quite nicely.

We had quite a bit of rain yesterday and a much cooler temperature. Today is supposed cooler still (than normal), but at least sunny and then we should be getting much warmer by the end of the week. Spring temperatures are FINALLY here. I’m still carrying a light sweatshirt in the car at all times because it takes all day to get to the warmer temperatures 😂

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry and cleaning are up to date 😀
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have no pending errands or appointments this week that can’t wait. I do need to get the tires rotated on my car and address a brake squeal that shouldn’t be happening because they are pretty new brakes 😀
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Because I don’t have many actual errands, I’m hoping to get a bunch of paperwork handled.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I found some OLD, really OLD taste of home magazines in an antique store and will be going through them  in hopes of finding some new and fun recipes.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • AMAZON PRIME We’ve been re-watching WAREHOUSE 13 ~ it’s been so long that it feels new again, but with characters that feel like family 😀
  • CABLE We ran across an old Hitchcock movie that starred Jimmy Stewart called ROPE which was kind of fun on a rainy Sunday morning.

After a couple of weeks of audio books I’m having a tough time getting back into reading 🙁

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 BBQ BEEF PATTIES & ASPARAGUS RICE
 SOUR CREAM PORK CHOPS & CORN TAMALITOS with GREEN BEANS
ORANGE TERIYAKI CHICKEN
 HONEY THYME PORK TENDERLOIN
 YOYO CORN your’re on your own or clean out refrigerator night
 BALSAMIC HERB CHICKEN and PARMESAN MASHED POTATOES
JAMBALAYA & SALAD
DESSERT
 
 
PECAN BARS
 

We took a walk around the pond the other day and I found that the blackberries are starting to bloom. Hopefully they’ll be on time this year for the festival in August.

There is a neighbor who spearheaded a grant program to “build up” the pond. Unfortunately, most of us don’t share his vision. There are tons of construction changes (paving walkways where there used to be a well used path, tearing out the trees that lined the south side of the pond, adding pavilions and tons of concrete…) and upgrades going on that are disrupting the local neighborhood peace. Many of the animals aren’t happy either. The 9-10 swans that were living on the island are gone, literally just vanished, many of the birds are no where to be seen, we haven’t heard the frogs this year, the beavers that built this dam have lost most of their trees and vegetation in the area…

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 21 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.141

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 cool and foggy here this morning, but we should hit some pretty nice weather as we travel home today. That said the weather at home appears to be running on the cooler side so we’ll see what tomorrow brings. The weather app on my phone says the high for tomorrow will be a cloudy 49°. I did get a new hoodie and flannel on the trip that I’ll wear one today and one tomorrow.

I’m a bit tired, but happy that I was able to get so much accomplished for my SIL in a short amount of time. We also had a smaller than normal group (only 42 due to graduations, proms and weddings) for the family reunion, but it was a great time. I’m hoping next year’s group is bigger again.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll have a few loads of laundry when we get home, but the cleaning was done before we left.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll definitely to do grocery shopping on Wednesday 😀
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS ??
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING ??

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • We’ll see what’s on the DVR when we get home 😀

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
 OUT WHILE ON THE ROAD
 OUT WHILE ON THE ROAD
ORANGE CHICKEN and CHOW MEIN
 JAMBALAYA and DIRTY RICE
 OUT working CRIBBAGE WEEKEND
OUT working CRIBBAGE WEEKEND
OUT working CRIBBAGE WEEKEND
DESSERT
 
 
CAJUN CAKE
 

I’m not posting ALL the photos from the family reunion, but if anyone is interested here’s a link to see how much fun we had.It was a little bit colder than normal, but we didn’t let that stop us! 😀

We had lunch at the wharf before we headed down to the family reunion. It was a cold, but pretty day!

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 20 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.134

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 hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day! Ours was spent traveling and then having a wonderful late lunch with my SIL and then a late dinner with a favorite nephew and his family. I’ll be accomplishing SIL’s honey do list (mostly technological stuff – updating her cell phone, changing out her modem and router…) for the next couple days before we leave for the family reunion.

We traveled this past weekend to spend time with my SIL before the family reunion this next weekend. What a shock to the system! We were warm at home, but only for 2 hours a day. We crossed the state border and the temperature jumped almost 40 degrees at 10AM! It’s a beautiful 70 degrees here at SIL’s house.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • SIL’s choice

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

5/13 MONDAY
5/14 TUESDAY
5/15 WEDNESDAY
5/16 THURSDAY
5/17 FRIDAY
5/18 SATURDAY
5/19 SUNDAY
DINNER
 SIL’S CHOICE
 SIL CHOICE
SIL CHOICE
HITCHING POST with friends driving up for the night
STREET TACOS
 POTLUCK
SIL’s CHOICE
DESSERT
 
 
 

Winter has gone on and on this year. I didn’t think we were ever going to be able to start a garden. Then this week the temps finally hit spring! The feed store was down to their last tomato starters so I bought them because they said they wouldn’t be getting anymore and am hoping for the best.

We also had an old box spring that needed disposed of. The local disposal site wouldn’t take it unless it was broken down into pieces and even then it was going to cost $18 for us to take it to them. Hubby took all the batting off and broke it down and then folded it in half so it would fit in my car for transport. It was then that the light bulb went off in my head. Let me introduce you to the new tomato cage. I think it will help support the tomato branches much better than the old cages.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 13 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.85

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. I’m so glad you are joining me in my corner of blogland. Pour a cup of coffee and grab a slice of my Lemon Blueberry coffee cake (the recipe will be posted next week) while we chat. This is going to be a super busy week to end March with. And Easter will be the topper.

I’m mostly recovered from my month away, but still dealing with a few issues I haven’t unpacked mentally yet. Some things after I’ve finished unpacking them will not see the light of day and for that I refer you to my inspiration category this week. 😀

It may be spring where you are, but here we’re still having mostly winter. Spring pops in for an hour here or there, but has yet to make a notable appearance. This week is full of rain with highs near 50°.  So I have yet to put away flannels, turtlenecks and UGGs.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I’ll finish with the deep clean this week, but am caught up on laundry. I’m trying to clean out drawers and the closet as spring approaches.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have an appointment in town tomorrow and will pick up just a few things after.
  • PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I have so much paperwork to catch up on! This week will be jam packed with so much to do!
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m looking into some spring recipes that are a bit lighter.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
We’re ALMOST caught up with the things that recorded while we were gone – TOURNAMENT of CHAMPIONS, CSI, FBI’s, CHICAGO SERIES, GOOD DOCTOR, YOUNG SHELDON, GHOSTS

I have never stopped reading a book before, but I’m about to if I can’t get done this week with THE ALICE NETWORK.

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

MONDAY 3/25
TUESDAY 3/26
WEDNESDAY 3/27
THURSDAY 3/28
FRIDAY 3/29
SATURDAY 3/30
SUNDAY 3/31
DINNER
 RANCHERAS CHICKEN FRIED STEAK
HERB ROASTED CHICKEN with MASHED POTATOES
 TEXAS STYLE STEAKS with CHEDDAR RICE
 FRIED CHICKEN SALAD
 working the cribbage event at the Eagles so not cooking at home
 working the cribbage event at the Eagles so not cooking at home
HAM, SCALLOPED POTATOES, GLAZED CARROTS
DESSERT
 
 LEMON BLUEBERRY COFFEE CAKE
 
DUTCH APPLE PIE (HUBBY’S REQUEST)

It’s mating season at the Peacock Farm 😀

that said I’m loving my new shirt: 😀

Easter is upon us so here are a few color combos that I’m in love with 😀

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 3 of 2018

Week 3 of 2018 is underway and I’m anxious to be over this recuperation mode and ready to get my energy back and get some serious things done! Though, it will be 6 more weeks until I get formally released and begin a serious exercise routine. That said, with ALL this flu going around I’m just as happy to be stuck inside away from people.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re having ANOTHER cold snap here and are supposed to have rain and wintry mix sleet added to the mix tomorrow and Wednesday. With the flu epidemic at raging proportions I’m really staying in and away from people!

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

GERBER’S GRABBER – Apple Carrot Pineapple & Green Tea

CRAFTS / PROJECTS

I started working on finishing the kitchen counters.

ON MY MIND / THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

Starting later this week I can start to do a few more things, but am told the serious exercise and packing have to wait until the 90 day mark.  I’m handling the food part okay and realize it will actually save us some money in the long run though that is being eaten up by the mandatory 5 times a day vitamins.  They also sent me a blood work order to have done next month and I’m dreading the new 4 times a year blood work – 20 freaking tests!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

We’ve been having quite a bit of clear weather lately and the sunsets have been really pretty.

INSPIRATION

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE / WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • LAUNDRY… quite a few loads this week, towels, bedding and clothing – STILL washing most things every other day for a few more weeks to prevent infection
  • LIVING AREAS… can’t wait until I can relieve hubby of the duties and do a deep clean
  • KITCHEN… also needs a deep cleaning and paint touch up
  • STUDIO… is mainly storage these days so nothing going on there
  • YARD… hubby is going to mow and vinegar salt the weeds today before the rain tonight
  • BLOG… some recipe updating, future post planning and holiday post planning

CURRENTLY READING & TELEVISION / DVR

We’ve rented a bunch of Netflix movies the last several weeks to get me through the boredom and cold weather, but I’ve seen just about everything I want to see for awhile – really looking forward to spring at this point and getting out of this house!

  • I’m now reading Sophie Moss’ Seal Island series during my recuperation and am book #2, The Selkie Enchantress.

COMEDIES

  • BIG BANG THEORY, YOUNG SHELDON
  • THE GOOD PLACE, AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE, SPEECHLESS, GREAT NEWS
  • BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, LIFE IN PIECES

MILITARY, POLITICAL & CRIME DRAMAS and a couple that qualify as comedies

  • NCIS, NCIS NEW ORLEANS and NCIS LA, CRIMINAL MINDS, WISDOM OF THE CROWD, S.W.A.T.
  • MADAM SECRETARY, SCANDAL, DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
  • BRAVE, VALOR, SEAL TEAM, BLINDSPOT, MACGYVER, SCORPION
  • LAW & ORDER SVU, BLUE BLOODS, HAWAII 5-0, ELEMENTARY
  • CHICAGO FIRE, CHICAGO PD, CHICAGO MED, 911

DRAMAS

  • THE GOOD DOCTOR, THIS IS US, THE RESIDENT starts later this week

SYFY

  • Z NATION, the WALKING DEAD, FLASH, SUPERGIRL, DC LEGENDS
  • ORVILLE, ONCE UPON A TIME, THE X-FILES, THE ALIENIST starts later this week

COOKING

  • GUY’S GROCERY GAMES, BEAT BOBBY FLAY, BOBBY AND DAMARIS, BAKED IN VERMONT
  • KID’S BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP, WORST COOKS IN AMERICA

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

I’ve placed orders this week with Home Chef and Hello Fresh to get back into the swing of cooking without leaving the house to shop since I still can’t carry grocery bags yet and I’m trying to stay away from people in general, but there will still be leftovers unfortunately. I planned a couple C.O.R.N. nights to use the leftovers.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
B-FAST
3-4 ounces EGGS or OATMEAL and GREEN Tea
3-4 ounces EGGS or OATMEAL and GREEN Tea
3-4 ounces EGGS or OATMEAL and GREEN Tea
3-4 ounces EGGS or OATMEAL and GREEN Tea
3-4 ounces EGGS or OATMEAL and GREEN Tea
TOASTED FRENCH TOAST
BACON & EGGS
2 times a day
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 cup  1% MILK  or PROTEIN DRINK
1 time a day
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
2-4 ounces tuna salad or yogurt
LUNCH & DINNER
2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

MAPLE GLAZED DUCK with BLOOD ORANGE SALAD and FINGERLING POTATOES

2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

PARMESAN and ROSEMARY PORK CHOPS with ALMOND COUSCOUS and ROASTED CARROTS

2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

CRISPY ONION CHICKEN with GREEN BEANS and MUSHROOM GRAVY

2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

CHICKEN UNDER A ZUCCHINI BLANKET with MASHED POTATOES and GREEN BEANS

2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

C.O.R.N.

2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

SPAGHETTI & RICOTTA MEATBALLS with GARLIC GREEN BEANS

2 OUNCES PROTEIN with a  small salad

C.O.R.N.

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

While these recipes were successful, we still prefer my Laverne Defazio pot roast and my Aloha BBQ Ribs (recipe later this month when I make them) to either of these recipes.  I posted them in case anyone prefers their flavor profiles.

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

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