INSPIRATIONAL – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

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 happy to be home and maybe back to a more normal routine this week. I hope you are all enjoying the long weekend, but also remember that this is not just a BBQ holiday. It’s a time to honor those that gave all for our country.

Honestly, I’m exhausted!!!!!! It’s been an exhausting month!!!!!! I need a vacation from my vacation!! I’m going to take a couple days to rest up and then think about what needs to be done next.

Also, I’ve spent a great deal of my time volunteering for the Eagles over the past 2 years. June 1st will bring about a “changing of the guard” in officers that I have some serious doubts about. So, I’m branching out to other organizations with my volunteer efforts. This is a good thing for me, but requires a mind change.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a couple loads of laundry to get caught up on.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have to make a list and get several groceries this week when I go to town for my pedicure on Wednesday.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Hoping to spend Thursday and Friday getting caught up on multiple projects.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I really need to hunker down and go through several recipe piles and trim down my want to make list.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

AMAZON PRIME We started watching WAREHOUSE 13 of an evening. We really enjoyed it the first time around.
ROKU We are watching COACH reruns for hubby to fall asleep to.

Now that I’m all caught up from the trip and a non-stop week of food prep for the cribbage tournament over the holiday weekend I can finally start a new book. I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU by Fannie Flagg.

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 and TOMALITOS	TUSCAN CHICKEN and ASPARAGUS	CORN / YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	ORANGE TERIYAKI CHICKEN and RICE	BAKED HAM with RASPBERRY SAUCE	CORN / YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	BAVETTE STEAK in DEMI-GLACE AND SAUER POTATOES
DESSERT

I’m still sorting through all the pictures from our trip, but I did get a couple this week with my super early mornings that were particularly nice and spoke to me.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU PLANS & RECIPE LINKS week 19 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.127

We were at 48° yesterday with wind and off and on rain despite no rain in the forecast and are supposed to be at 55° with rain today. But by Friday we’re supposed to be up to 87° and sunny for 2 days! This weather is completely crazy everywhere. I am hoping it has leveled out by the time we get back from the family reunion and that spring will finally make an appearance. I’m having enough trouble believing we’re in May already. I’m not ready to go from winter to summer, but am ready to pack away the flannels for awhile. I want some spring!

I’m not going to get into specifics, but could use everyone’s prayers for some health issues my mom is going through.

I can’t believe were already a week into May let alone that there are only 232 days until Christmas. Life is passing by all too quickly. I want to make changes to my life to allow me to slow down and enjoy it more.

I’m still all about helping where and when I can, but I will be more selective about it. I was asked last minute to fill in for the kitchen at the Eagles Band Night Saturday for a man who was scheduled to work and had to deal with a family emergency so of course I said yes. Long story short he told one person in charge it was a family emergency and another that it was counseling with his wife. He then proceeded to show up as a guest and danced the night away. Twice earlier this same week I had already had clean up the kitchen he’d left dirty so needless to say I was a bit miffed at the audacity to lie to 2 different people in charge and then act like he did. He didn’t even thank me for filling in for him! People like that just kick the nice right out of me 🙁

I had already talked to a few other people about helping on some other community projects (that are non-Eagle) related for after we get back from the family reunion. I’m going to accept their offers and jump in to help in other areas.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING A few things to do in order to get packed and then clean up from packing 😀
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a pedicure later today and a few errands, but cooking our of the freezer and pantry before we leave for the family reunion.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Trying to tidy up some loose ends, but trying to get a hold of some people is like pulling teeth.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Looking for some spring menu inspiration when we get back. I am working on a Hawaiian Chicken Salad recipe that I have high hopes for.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

We’ve been cleaning out the DVR before our trip. We also binge watched a few episodes of CARTER with Jerry O’Connell over the rainy weekend.

I’ve been exhausted while falling asleep, but I’m still on Fannie Flagg’s I Still Dream About You.

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

	5/6 MONDAY	5/7 TUESDAY	5/8 WEDNESDAY	5/9 THURSDAY	5/10 FRIDAY	5/11 SATURDAY	5/12 SUNDAY
DINNER	SEAFOOD SALAD & PARMESAN ROLLS	CHICKEN WRAPS & PEA SALAD	POT ROAST & NOODLES	CORN clean out refrigerator night	OUT	ON THE ROAD	SIL’s CHOICE
DESSERT

This is the first MAY POLE I’ve seen since I was kid and we did it in grade school one year. I am impressed with the creative ingenuity of using the basketball pole.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 18 of 2024~ BLOG 366.120

**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 that it is almost May already! This year is speeding by way too fast.

We’re at that time of year where the highs in the 60’s are good for about a 2 hour window in the afternoon, but we are starting the day in the high 30’s-40’s and the weather pattern changes several times a day from partially sunny, to cloudy to rainy and back again with some strong breezes thrown in around noon time lately. So layers are the name of the game! Today is Levis with a black tank, buffalo plaid flannel and a favorite hoodie. I’m cleaning out my closet this week and getting a bag together for donation

I went to the County Quilt Show last Friday and had a great time. A friend of mine won 2 of the prizes with her great eye for color and designI’m hoping to get a post done with the other wonderful quilts I saw later this week.

Sandra posted her baby birds last week which made me wonder where I had filed my own pictures 😀 I just LOVE watching the birds each morning as I have my coffee. SO I started looking and I found them. I took these outside my SIL’s back door last year.

Broom Hilda and The Grinch made an appearance in our little timber town recently.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is up to date, but I need to vacuum and do the bathrooms and kitchen.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I don’t need much this week, but will get those few items when I do the Eagle’s shopping on Wednesday.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m still waiting on a few callbacks from several people, and working on final plans for the upcoming family reunions.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m ahead of the game on this category, but will quickly fall behind with the upcoming trip and all the cooking for the cribbage weekend and 2 June dinners at the Eagles.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

DVR is caught up (almost) and have been watching the spring baking championship, 24 in 24, season finales for a few shows and a few old movies.

I finally finished The Alice Network which I really enjoyed. I have no idea why the first half of the book read so slow for me and I LOVED the twist ending. I’m now reading I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU by Fannie Flagg.

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

	4/29 MONDAY	4/30 TUESDAY	5/1 WEDNESDAY	5/2 THURSDAY	5/3 FRIDAY	5/4 SATURDAY	5/5 SUNDAY
DINNER	PERUVIAN VERDE ARROZ con POLLO	cooking at EAGLES ~ CHICKEN CHILI & CORNBREAD	CHICKEN MARSALA and NOODLES	PAN FRIED PORK CHOPS and BROWN RICE	cooking at EAGLES ~ BEEF FAJITAS	HALIBUT ENCHILADAS and BEANS	SEAFOOD SALAD
DESSERT		STRAWBERRY POUND CAKE			CHOCOLATE ANCHO CHILI CUPCAKES

SATURDAY COFFEE ~ BLOG 366.111

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU week 15 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.99

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? April in the Pacific North West is unpredictable at best! You hope for the best, plan for the worst and in reality live somewhere in between. So Levis, a comfy sweatshirt and favorite UGGs it is – AGAIN! 😀 The forecast for this week WAS (was being the operative word) high 70’s and sunshine. The reality so far is low 50’s and clouds with pockets of rain.

Last Friday was supposed to be beautiful ALL day per the forecast, but when I went up to our little town to run several errands I encountered 5 different weather patterns within 3 miles! It was sunny and a beautiful 60° when I left my house and when I reached my girlfriend’s house 2 miles later it had clouded over and dropped to 55°. From there I went to the market less than 1/2 mile away to recycle some cans and it was sunny again, but breezy and quite cool. From there I went to the post office, again less than 1/2 mile away and while I was inside it completely clouded over again, dropped to 49° and started drizzling. From there I went to the feed store (our UPS drop off in this small country town) and while I was inside for just 2 minutes the temperature dropped to 36° and started hailing fast and hard with BB size hail that hurt! From there I went 1 mile back towards home to the Tractor Supply and it became sunny again though the temperature only went back up to 50°. It then proceeded to start raining as I got home and continued to do so off and on (more on than off) for the next several hours. And there you have a typical April in the Pacific North West. 😀

I have a lot going on, but so few words to describe it all. My girlfriend’s father passed away early Saturday morning so I want to be available for her and her family if they need anything this week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is up to date, but I need to do some vacuuming and de-cluttering from all the projects I’ve had going. I’m hoping to get some sewing done later in the week.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS Eagles shopping on Wednesday and hubby has an eye doctor appointment on Friday.
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS This is all part of the de-cluttering. No travels until May except for the Great Junk Hunt next weekend with a girlfriend for the day.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Another part of the de-cluttering as I have been searching for spring menu items.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Been catching up on the DVR still from being away in March and think I’ll be completely caught up by the end of the week 😀 We did watch a couple of oldies on Saturday – Beetjuice which I hadn’t seen since it was new and Real Genius with Val Kilmer as a kid that I had never seen.

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

Once again, have I mentioned that I am absolutely in love with my new slow cooker? 😀

	4/8 MONDAY	4/9 TUESDAY	4/10 WEDNESDAY	4/11 THURSDAY	4/12 FRIDAY	4/13 SATURDAY	4/14 SUNDAY
DINNER	SLOW COOKER BEEF IN GRAVY over MASHED POTATOES	SLOW COOKER SALSA CHICKEN and CHEESE	SLOW COOKER CHICKEN and SAUSAGE GUMBO	SLOW COOKER ORANGE TERIYAKI CHICKEN and RICE	JAMBALAYA	CORN/YOYO CLEAN OUT THE REFRIGERATOR OR YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN	OVEN BAKED BBQ CHICKEN
DESSERT		CHILI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES with CHILI CREAM CHEESE FROSTING			BLUEBERRY PUDDING CAKE with LEMON SAUCE

My neighbor’s daughter was down visiting last week with her Rag doll cats. This is Miss Blue who is so sweet, soft and pretty! Mister Bear decided to be coy and chose to avoid the camera all together. And yesterday was the “Last Stroll” on our one way bridge. It will be demolished soon as the new two way is about to open completely.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENU week 14 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.92

Today is going to be gorgeous and 72° (though it’s only 35° right now)! Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous and 74°. Wednesday is supposed to be a high of 47° and dropping so we can have snow on Thursday. 😀 And then we will return to our regularly scheduled programming of the Pacific North West at its best – cold and rainy every day.

This week will be a bit slower thankfully! I worked a cribbage tournament last week that kept me not only busy, but exhausted! After today that is! There’s a lot of clean up to do from the cribbage tournament from this weekend that had me working from Wednesday through most of Easter and there is also a lot of maintenance to do on clogged sinks, drains and over weighted attic areas at the Eagles. The rest of the week will be much slower for me then.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry and cleaning are up to date
GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be shopping on Wednesday
PAPERWORK, PHONE CALLS, PROJECTS & TRAVELS Thursday will be my catch up day in this category
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m working on the next several weeks, but need to get more serious about spring recipes

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

SPRING BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP, TRACKER, YOUNG SHELDON, GHOSTS, CHICAGO SERIES, NCIS, FBI’s, TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS and a few HALLMARK MOVIES

I have been falling asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow, but I’m hoping to get back to reading this week.

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

My new slow cooker will be here this afternoon so the rest of the week will be a slow cooker collection in honor of the winter/spring custody battle going on in our area.

A friend and I are working together making the Cinco de Mayo Auxiliary dinner for the Eagles and I’m in charge of dessert. So, I’m trying 3 different recipes this week for us to decide from.

	4/1 MONDAY	4/2 TUESDAY	4/3 WEDNESDAY	4/4 THURSDAY	4/5 FRIDAY	4/6 SATURDAY	4/7 SUNDAY
DINNER	FETTUCCINE & MEATBALLS with BOLOGNESE	ORANGE TERIYAKI CHICKEN & RICE	MEATLOAF, POTATOES and GRAVY	CORNED BEEF, POTATOES & CARROTS	POKER NIGHT CHILI & CORNBREAD	SMOKED BBQ BRISKET	SALSA CHICKEN & CHEESE
DESSERT		MARGARITA BALLS	CHILI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES with CHILI CREAM CHEESE FROSTING	MARGARITA CUPCAKES with KEY LIME CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

HAPPY EASTER ~ SILENT SUNDAY ~ BLOG 366. 91

SATURDAY COFFEE ~ BLOG 366.90

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 MONDAY week 11 of 2024 ~ BLOG 366.71

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 past week was extremely warm (mid 80’s) and very humid for March in southeast Texas, but then the weekend turned almost cold and windy bringing back out the sweatshirts we started the trip with. Fortunately we’ll be leaving here later today before the warm weather returns. So I’m starting today in Levi’s, a favorite t-shirt, sweatshirt and some tennies that I should have broken in better before the trip.

I’m glad we came to help my cousin and be here for the memorial. My aunt passed several years back so now both of my god parents are gone. I know my aunt and uncle are looking down and proud of my decisions. That said, I’m glad to be heading home having done all I can do to help and be leaving it in my rear view mirror. I’m going to leave the rest of my thoughts mulling over in my brain until next week 😀

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY I got caught up on laundry yesterday so we’ll start the trip home will ALL clean clothes.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I ran across a few of my aunt’s old recipes that were wonderful as a child, but will need to be converted to scratch now. Who really knows what this week will bring for a menu. The one thing I do know is a lot of eating out for our main meal.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Not much as it’s all at home on the DVR, but we did watch a couple Amazon movies – UPGRADED, THE OTHER ZOEY and ALIENS ABDUCTED MY PARENTS

I just began THE ENEMY at HOME by Kevin O’Brien, a WWII historical suspense novel. I’ve really been enjoying historical WWII novels.

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	DIL’S CHOICE	DIL’S CHOICE	OUT	OUT	OUT	OUT	OUT

Other than a few outings to favorite haunts for some long missed meals our week was spent working on clearing out my uncle’s house – throwing away the trash from the shed, house and garage, packing up the donations for his favorite charity and helping my cousin pack what she is taking home with her to Kansas. We’re exhausted and ready to start heading home!