Tag: NANEA HOFFMAN

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPES & MENUS week 47 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.328

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

It was a busier than usual week plus mom had her knee replacement surgery last Wednesday. And this will be a “short” week, so let’s just jump into it.

Happy Thanksgiving week! I won’t be hosting anything this year, but going to a friend’s house with a couple favorite recipes in tow. The thing is though that when you host Thanksgiving you have the leftovers and more time that weekend for family time. Fortunately, for me anyway, the friend hosting is a snowbird and leaving the next day so I still get leftovers 🙂

When I was a kid we always hosted Thanksgiving and my dad would put up the tree the day after, sit me down with a pile full of presents to wrap, Christmas cards to address, football on television, a freshly made leftover turkey sandwich… aw the memories…

Not having the weight of getting the house ready though has freed me to concentrate on BLOGMAS which I will begin on Friday November 28th. I’m also going to do it a little different this year in hopes of freeing up some extra time. There will only be 10 actual blog days for BLOGMAS, each of which will cover multiple topics that have been grouped together to make things easier. I hope you can play along and enjoy the simplicity of this year 🙂

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING I got all the laundry done yesterday.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m avoiding as many stores as possible this week. I will do virtually no Eagle’s shopping either. Mom does have a late PT appointment on Wednesday, her first since last week’s knee replacement.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned through the rest of 2025 and I’m making them as anti-inflammatory as possible.
  • DVR/TV Who has had time?
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Cold foggy mornings when I wake up early and snuggle deeper into my winter quilt to read for a bit before coffee, soft fuzzy slippers to slide into when I do get up followed by a hot cup of coffee to sip while I check the weather and decide what to wear.

READING TIME

I’m back to falling asleep quickly, but need to spend more time reading!

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/24 MONDAY
11/25 TUESDAY
11/26 WEDNESDAY
11/27 THURSDAY
11/28 FRIDAY
11/29 SATURDAY
11/30 SUNDAY
DINNER
 Auxiliary meeting night so it’s CORN/YOYO
 SPAGHETTI BOLEGNESE and PARMESAN MEATBALLS
 CHICKEN BROCCOLI SOUP with BUTTER BISCUITS
 THANKSGIVING @ SHIRLEY’S I’m bringing the stuffing and dessert and bringing home leftovers 🙂

 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 LASAGNE & GARLIC BREAD
 BEEF BARLEY STEW
DESSERT
 
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Don’t judge, but my tree is up 🙂 since we aren’t hosting Thanksgiving I got a jump start on Christmas decorating. The new star for the tree top arrived and we love it.

There are 2 barns in particular that I just love to see when we take the back route to town. If I’d have had to make a prediction years ago I would have picked the one still standing as the one that would falls first. If we get a good wet snow this year I really believe the second one will fall completely.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • SLOW COOKED MUSHROOM BEEF STROGANOFF
  • CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BARS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 46 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.321

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was busy, but I’m so glad I broke it up with a lunch date with hubby, a little junk hunting for some craft parts and then the painting class. It was a super small class (just the 3 of us), but that made it really nice. And then on Saturday I went for a GIRLS DAY OUTING to a first annual craft fair at a fairly local (less than 40 miles away) casino along with lunch and then drinks at a favorite haunt on the way back. Now this week I will catch up on all the things I DIDN’T get done last week. 🙂 

Public service announcement: 10 days until Thanksgiving and only 38 days until Christmas!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re having our traditional start to winter with much cooler and wet weather here (50’s for highs and 30’s for lows), so it’s definitely sweatshirts, flannels and UGGs for me this week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING I have a bit of clutter to finish cleaning up from the Christmas set up and a couple of loads of laundry to do.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I made a list last night and hubby has a couple errands he’s added to my list so I guess we’ll be heading to town today to get our personal shopping done instead of trying to cram it into the same day as the Eagle’s shopping.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I finished my Nutcracker painting and am hoping I can make the MAGI date work to take that class still. If I can’t, I will probably try it on my own, but classes are more fun 🙂
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Good through the end of the year 🙂
  • DVR/TV We watched a silly movie on Netflix PLAY DATE with Kevin James, Sarah Chalk and Alan Ritchson.
  • ON MY MIND Happy heavenly birthday daddy. I really miss you! Getting ready for my mom’s knee replacement Wednesday. Dealing with the new angst (2 women quit the kitchen with no notice) of Eagle’s issues (AGAIN) and the strain of having to go back to covering the kitchen on a day I previously gave up and finding someone to cover yet another.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY The feel of freshly laundered sheets, laughing until I cry with good friends, the smell of fresh baked cinnamon rolls, curling up under a soft blanket with a good book, …

READING TIME

I’m still trying to finish THE BOOKCLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostick, but have also started FORGET ME NOT by Stacy Willingham. I really enjoyed the thought provoking way she told A FLICKER IN THE DARK so thought I’d try another of hers.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/17 MONDAY
11/18 TUESDAY
11/19 WEDNESDAY
11/20 THURSDAY
11/21 FRIDAY
11/22 SATURDAY
11/23 SUNDAY
DINNER
 CHICKEN MACARONI SALAD & BUNLESS BURGERS
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 FLYING FARMER SALAD
EFFIE’S DELICIOUS DISH 
 CHICKEN CARBONARA
 APPLE BBQ CHICKEN SALAD
DESSERT
 
 
 STUFFED SNICKERDOODLES

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Saturday’s GIRL’S DAY OUTING LUNCH was fantastic. I LOVE this group of friends from the Eagles. Our ages are REALLY varied, but that’s okay!! I didn’t get any pictures of the craft fair, but it was a first annual and was pretty good also. I was looking for specific items and I found the main one (a new tree skirt for this smaller tree), so was happy with the day. 🙂

Out of all of us there was A LOT of the same meals ordered, but these were the best in my opinion ~ Shrimp Tacos and a Lemon Ricotta Chicken Papperdelle. There was also a popular Wild Rice Butternut Squash dish, but it didn’t photograph well.

A little indulging is ALWAYS allowed during this season!

No judging allowed! Our tree is up! BUT, we’re not having Thanksgiving here 🙂 I did also order a new tree top star that will be here on Wednesday.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • BAKED CHICKEN MARSALA 
  • AZZOLINA SPAGHETTI

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 45 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.314

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Last week was a whirlwind of activity as we spent Wednesday in the pouring rain doing out of town shopping at the Chef’s Store for the Eagle’s upcoming Friendsgiving event next week, as well as taking the time to do TinselTown for me. There’s a home improvement store that turns their garden area into a bright and light filled Christmas area every year that I look forward to seeking out new treasures for our tree and decorating. As we begin week 45 of 2025, it only seems like the perfect time to remind everyone that there are only 45 days until Christmas 🙂

We also found a new place for lunch, Forresters Bar & Grill. They had the most amazing open face sandwiches (hubby had the turkey and I had the roast beef). I can’t remember the last time I even saw hot open face sandwiches on a menu!

We needed new lights for the tree this year (we threw out the old last year and bought some new at Lowes on Tuesday. Wednesday night we started putting up the tree only to realize we hadn’t bought enough of the glitter sparkle lights at Lowes on Tuesday to do the whole tree. I tried to buy more at Lowes on Thursday when I went to town to do the rest of the Eagle’s regular shopping only to be told they weren’t ordering any more this season. What the heck? It’s only early November and they’re out for the WHOLE season? I found that theme carried into the grocery shopping also. So many stores are stocking less and less inventory forcing you to buy a different brand or style or be forced to order on line. The rest of the lights should be here this afternoon.

Friday I baked a sheet cake for the first Friday birthday celebration at the Eagles. My friend usually does it, but she was away at a conference this weekend. I gave Glenda, the woman cooking the dinner the choice of flavor since her birthday falls in November and she couldn’t decide between chocolate and carrot cake so I combined them 🙂 and I have to say the flavor combo turned out awesome! I made extra for my neighbor to try and a cake for the new neighbors as a welcome to the neighborhood. 

Saturday was a more leisurely spent day, but I did make lists for hosting Christmas and the things I need to make the Neighbor holiday plates. If shopping is this bad in early November I don’t want any surprises close to Christmas. I also got a little decorating done though the living room is a mess waiting on the rest of the lights to arrive.

Sunday we met some friends for an early brunch before football. How can you say no to breakfast burritos and Mimosas? After all brunch without mimosas is just a sad late breakfast! 🙂 I really enjoyed the GIANTS and BEARS game with the snow and cold.

And now here we are back to Monday and I have a meeting tonight so need to pull together my notes and get the minutes typed.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

FORTUNATELY, we’re not getting the bitter cold that the Midwest is, but it’s definitely winter here already. It’s been windy, wet and the bone chilling kind of wet and cold. I did buy some new pretty feminine colored (pinks and purples) turtlenecks and flannels this year so I won’t look like a lumberjack reject (reds and greens) all winter long! 🙂 Temps will be in the low 50’s during the day low 40’s at night with dense morning fog and clouds. The rain will be beginning again towards the end of the week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING I need to change the bedding and a couple loads of laundry today.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I only have a couple errands this week, a hair cut and a pedicure. I’m decided on taking the nutcracker class on Wednesday evening. I really wanted to do the MAGI one, but it’s too close to my mom’s knee replacement and I don’t want to leave her alone for that long. My friend who teaches the class said she’d see about scheduling the MAGI again in December.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS Nothing much right now though we are hoping to get away to the coast in December or January for a few days. We actually like being at the coast when it’s cold and windy. We started planning it yesterday while we were having brunch with friends and getting their suggestions for places they’ve been.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING Menus are planned up to Thanksgiving and I’m planning to do soups, chilis and stews with crusty breads and rolls in December ~ just still working on flavor profiles.
  • DVR/TV It has been hit or miss on staying on top of shows, but I am up to date with the holiday baking shows. 
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Looking out on chilly, foggy winter mornings while holding my warm coffee while remembering my own rule that I won’t go anywhere until it’s 40°, the aroma of an all day soup or stew, the matching aroma of a crusty bread…

READING TIME

I’ve been trying to finish A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham and probably will finish it tonight so I can then finish THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostick before I start a new one. I hate when I have multiple books going.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/10 MONDAY
11/11 TUESDAY
11/12 WEDNESDAY
11/13 THURSDAY
11/14 FRIDAY
11/15 SATURDAY
11/16 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN / YOYO    clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 
LEMON HERB ROAST CHICKEN 
CORN / YOYO    clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 
CHICKEN ala KING 
CORN / YOYO    clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own  
 CLARICE’S FAVORITE PORK CHOPS & BAKED BEANS
 APPLE BBQ CHICKEN SALAD
DESSERT
 
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I’m so happy to see water in the “little” pond again and I know this guy is too. I think he spent ALL day there as you can see from the morning overcast picture and the afternoon sunny picture a few hours later. LOL It’s probably two different birds, but a girl can dream…

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • BLOODY MARY PICKLES
  • BLUE CARROT BUNDT CAKE

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 44 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.307

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Good morning friends. Did you remember to reset your clocks? I’m already hating the early darkness making the evenings seem sooooo very long.

It was a fairly busy weekend here beginning with Halloween on Friday night. We had about 100 kids (or 2 Costco bags worth of candy) come through our neighborhood. There are a lot of really rural communities around us and they bring their kids to our neighborhood to Trick-Or-Treat because we are literally the first organized neighborhood as you head into town. The welcome sign to our town is literally posted at the bottom of our back hill on the highway 🙂 

With Halloween over and us not doing Thanksgiving here at our house, I’m moving right along into enjoying the Christmas holidays. Everything is happening so fast this year! So, I’m starting earlier again as you can see by my new header and background. My front door table is all that’s decorated for Thanksgiving – everything else is moving straight into Christmas. Hubby and I started getting Christmas decorations out of storage yesterday. We’re using the artificial tree this year and it is up and acclimating to the house. Hubby spent some time last night leafing out the branches. We’ll start decorating it tomorrow or Wednesday.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re supposed to have rain all week off and on. Looks like it may be more on than off, but that’s okay as we’re so far behind this year. Highs in the mid 50’s and lows in the low 40’s will have me wearing my favorite turtlenecks and flannels this week.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING I was actually able to get 4 loads of laundry done yesterday, the car loaded with donations to be delivered later today during the rain break, lunch with a friend for some of her yummy white chicken chili soup and some spray painting done on a few Christmas decorations that need a refresh.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS We went to the butcher last Saturday and the produce farm so groceries are done. I’ve been cleaning out the pantry for the local food drive that is also being held by a friend at her mercantile. On my to do list is working on Christmas decorating, cleaning out more pantry foods, deep cleaning the bathroom drawers and my closet for flannels and coats my friend is collecting for her students. She teaches at a school with a lot of special ed and homeless teens.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I’m moving right along with a Christmas wreath made from old cookie cutters and a Christmas tree made from old bundt pans. I’m also working on a new candle ring made from thrift store pieces. My girlfriend and I spent the better part of a day thrifting for pieces to take to girls night this year for a cool crystal tree project we’re working on. Another friend, also a Tami, is hosting this year at her house.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m researching some new recipes for the goodies on the neighbor plates for Christmas as well as Christmas dinner as I’m hosting this year.
  • DVR/TV The Holiday Baking Championship begins tonight and the Harry Potter one started last night. I also want to get caught up on the Mistletoe Murders as well as a few other Hallmark movies.
  • ON MY MIND Trying to decide which of these picture to do next. Thoughts and opinions?
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY Snuggling under a soft blanket with a book, the smell of fresh coffee brewing, the gingerbread scent of my new Nativity scentsy warmer…

READING TIME

I’m reading A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham right now trying to get caught up with book club. I also just started THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostick

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
11/3 MONDAY
11/4 TUESDAY
11/5 WEDNESDAY
11/6 THURSDAY
11/7 FRIDAY
11/8 SATURDAY
11/9 SUNDAY
DINNER
 AVGOLEMONOA aka GREEK LEMON CHICKEN RICE SOUP
 COPYCAT APPLEBEE’S ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD
 LEMON PORK CHOPS & LEMON NOODLE KUGEL
 CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
 SALSA VERDE CHICKEN & RICE
 CARAMELIZED ONION APPLE MAC & CHEESE with CHICKEN SCHNITZEL
 CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT
 
 
 CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

This is the sunset from Halloween night which was perfect weather for the Trick-Or-Treaters.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 43 of 2025 with RECIPE LINKS & MENUS ~ BLOG 365.300

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

IT’S MONDAY!!! 

GOOD MORNING sweet friends. I’m sitting here savoring my coffee and the quiet house while I make my list(s) for the week and before I have to get ready to brave the brisk morning breeze for some early morning appointments.

Can you believe we’re in the last week of October already? I find it utterly mind boggling. Thanksgiving is only a month away and Christmas is only 60 days away!!

We’re going to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving this year and I’m taking the dressing and dessert. So I don’t have the stress of too much food preparation, decorating or even clean up so that’s a bit of a relief. I actually wrapped 3 Christmas presents this past weekend and am contemplating where to put the tree this year.

I’ve been slacking a bit on BLOGTOBER, but did get a couple posts in last week for my favorite fall clothing and a public service announcement about Christmas. Honestly, my heart and mind have already moved on to BLOGMAS.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It has been quite cool and wet this past weekend and we even had a small thunderstorm, but we’re supposed to dry out a bit this week (at least until Saturday when the rain is due to begin again) and be clearer. That will make it a bit cooler though and I’m ready! Daytime highs will be in the mid 50’s and nighttime lows in the mid 30’s.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY, WHAT’S ON MY MIND, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • TO DO: LAUNDRY & CLEANING With the rainy weekend I was able to get the laundry and cleaning completely up to date. I’m also going through the closet and all my drawers sorting out things for this early winter and donating what I can. The local trash company is going on an odd schedule for the next 3 weeks so hubby and I have been trying to chop down, cut small and make all the outside detritus fit into the odd scheduled days for pick up where and when we can if it’s not too rainy.
  • TO DO: GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’ll be in town today and will get just a few oddball things like laundry soap and shoelaces to finish up the week.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS On hold yet again 🙁
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m definitely looking for some hearty slow cooker recipes for this next month.
  • DVR/TV I know the new season is barely started, but I’m already behind!!!!
  • ON MY MIND I’ve been thinking about the fastly approaching holidays – Thanksgiving in a month and Christmas in two months and how to navigate those this year. My mom’s upcoming knee replacement surgery, navigating family relations that are out of whack and life changes in general.
  • THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY I know I’m weird, but I LOVE all this rain and cold we’re getting early this year. With the time change coming next weekend it seems to be discombobulating me a bit this year!

READING TIME

I’m starting a new book tonight, A FLICKER IN THE DARK by STACY WILLINGHAM. I’m trying to get caught up on book club.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
10/27 MONDAY
10/28 TUESDAY
10/29 WEDNESDAY
10/30 THURSDAY
10/31 FRIDAY
11/1 SATURDAY
11/2 SUNDAY
DINNER
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 
SLOW COOKER PEPPER STEAK 
 CHILI CON CARNE QUESO CUPS & SALAD
 MANDARIN CHICKEN & RICE
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own 
 PASTA ala PASSION an OLD RECIPE BOX CHOICE
 HONEY JALAPENO SOY CHICKEN
DESSERT
 
 AUTUMN SNICKERDOODLES
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I wasn’t in a great location for the photos, but the rainbows were amazing this week when they happened.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • COPY CAT LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN with HOMEMADE MARINARA
  • BAKED FETTUCCINE ALFREDO and WARM TOMATO BROCCOLI SALAD

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY week 42 of 2025 with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS ~ BLOG 365.293

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

AHHHHHH a weekend away was just what the doctor ordered! Five years ago hubby and I went to the GREAT JUNK HUNT at the fairgrounds in the county 100 miles to the south of us for a weekend away and it was wonderful. I found not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR vintage recipe boxes.

Two years ago my girlfriend and I went to a great holiday market at the same fairgrounds south of us. We did it all in one day along with a trip to a HUGE Hobby Lobby and it was A LOT to cram in.

Last year we planned it as a weekend and took hubby along. Unfortunately, the holiday market was not as good as the previous year, though we did manage to find several of our favorite vendors and start the Christmas shopping with a bang!

But, this year we went 100 miles north to a GREAT JUNK HUNT and had just as much fun, if not more even though the JUNK HUNT itself was not very good! I’m always on the hunt for more vintage recipe boxes or sewing drawers and found neither this trip!

We were also able to get in some quality antiquing time and FINALLY visited a wonderful architectural salvage house that I’ve been bragging to my girlfriend about for years. She was an interior designed and loves all things architecturally old and vintage.

We also had some great happy hour times sitting and chatting, laughing and enjoying each other’s company at the hotel we stayed at for Friday and Saturday nights as well as checking out some wonderful restaurants that were new to us MOM & POP places. My favorites were Filberts Farmhouse kitchen where Dana had the tomato bisque and I had the most delicious butternut squash bisque with cranberry coulis and we split a Chicken Parmigiana sandwich, Pastini’s Mushroom ravioli with a caramelized leek sauce with garlic bread and Hops&Drops homemade Southwestern taquitos!

Last week’s BLOGTOBER shares were for my favorite:

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Our much needed rain is coming in spurts, but I’ll take it! We are just jumping from summer to winter this year though. Fall is getting lost in the mix! This week’s forecast is cloudy, highs in the 50’s and 60’s with lows in the upper 30’s and some rain each day with much heavier rain coming for next weekend.

ON MY MIND, TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, TRAVELS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING I need to get caught up on laundry and the chores I didn’t get done while we were away.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I definitely need to get some groceries and I have pedicure tomorrow so will probably do it then. Wednesday will be the normal Eagle’s shopping and we’re having lunch with some dear friends on Thursday.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS We’re working on a plan for a trip in November, but that will be determined by the discontinued part arrival and mechanic’s time frame for the car we’ll take on the trip.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING planned through October and into November for now. I had hoped to find more recipe boxes this weekend to finish up November, but will dig into my files instead.
  • DVR/TV We’ve changed internet companies and eliminated DISH so there isn’t really any DVR anymore and TV is up to our whims and streaming services. I’ll have to learn a new “normal” to see my “regular” shows.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

The dates are a little off, but the sentiment is the same. 🙂

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
10/20 MONDAY
10/21 TUESDAY
10/22 WEDNESDAY
10/23 THURSDAY
10/24 FRIDAY
10/25 SATURDAY
10/26 SUNDAY
DINNER
JOY’S PASTA ala PASSION
LEMON PORK CHOPS
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CHICKEN LEMONAISE
NAN’S PORK CHOPS
MANDARIN CHICKEN
CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
DESSERT
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I made a little progress on the new sewing cabinet.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • AUTUMNAL SALAD
  • BRAISED WHITE BEAN & SAUSAGE ONE POT MEAL

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 41 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.286

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

I did the Auxiliary Friday night dinner of my great gram’s chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes (kind of like an inside out chicken pot pie) which is ALWAYS a favorite of mine, even with 2 starches! We did okay, but there were many events in many locations and a tremendous rainstorm that I think hindered our attendance. I also finally got a fairly decent photo of this dish to update the blog.

Saturday we drove an hour to the “city” that has decent shopping to pick up my Hallmark order and have a nice lunch at PF CHANGS. We have no Hallmark store any longer (or any other decent major shopping) and only a handful of restaurants so it was a nice change. Since we’ve lived here, the area (within 25 miles) is “growing” housing wise, but decreasing in shopping, restaurants and healthcare. It makes no sense to me! We’ve lost the local hardware store and the one in the next town is about to close, Macy’s, JC Penney’s, Sears, Charlie’s BBQ, Loggers, Rite Aid, a Walgreens, Pedotti’s Italian, Cigno’s Italian, Nellies, FNB, Tolleys, Albertsons, PIER 1, Big Lots, JoAnns, Clarices, K-Mart…And yes I know many of those were lost nationwide, but…we now have 7 Mexican restaurants, just as many second hand stores and the town all but rolls up the sidewalks at dusk and on Mondays.

It was a rainy weekend again and I spent Sunday starting with breakfast at a friends bar & Grill, but then coming home for racing and football while lounging around researching recipes as well as 3 loads of laundry and oiling and cleaning up my “new” sewing cabinet.

On the way home from the city Saturday we stopped at two of our favorite antique stores after the Hallmark store and lunch and then we stopped in another favorite little town on the way back where I found the most unique sewing machine table. Actually, hubby found it for me, but it’s gonna be beautiful when we’re done with it and it was dirt cheap. Someone had added some cheap legs that didn’t match and it needed oiled A LOT, but other than that thee was just a small broken knob that is fortunately on a bottom drawer so not even noticeable when it’s all back together. I didn’t find anything else except these adorable scarecrow ghosts that I’ll use for two friends that have Halloween birthdays.

I’ve been joining in on BLOGTOBER for the prompts that speak to me and even adapting them to fit my life. Yesterday I did a compilation of some of my favorite apple recipes called ALL THINGS APPLE.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

It rained A LOT over the weekend, which we really needed, but it should conclude this afternoon, but the next several days, while cool (mid 50’s during the day and lows in the 30’s at night) are only supposed to be cloudy until the end of the week when the rain begins again. 🙂 I LOVE FALL!

ON MY MIND, TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, TRAVELS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Pretty tidy besides some totes I need to move to the garage when the weather is less rainy tomorrow.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS With going out of town on Friday I’ll only be shopping for the Eagles and maybe the Offyce this week.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS We’re headed off this weekend with a friend to go to the GREAT JUNK HUNT and some favorite antique stores as well as a favorite architectural salvage house.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m hoping to find more vintage/antique recipe boxes next weekend and then I’ll put together another menu plan for November and December.
  • DVR/TV The new season has begun and now I need to play catch up and decide which shows to keep watching and those to abandon.

READING TIME

I’m about to finish the BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER by Kim Michelle Richardson. Book club is meeting next weekend, but I’m going to be out of town and am honestly so far behind now I may just be bowing out of book club all together.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
 10/13 MONDAY
10/14 TUESDAY
10/15 WEDNESDAY
10/16 THURSDAY
10/17 FRIDAY
10/18 SATURDAY
10/19 SUNDAY
DINNER
Eagle’s meeting night CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
CHILI con CARNE QUESO CUPS
AZZOLINA SPAGHETTI also making a crock pot of CHILI MAC & CHICKEN VERDE CHILI for the Eagles to serve at BUNCO night
BAKED TUSCAN CHICKEN 
OOT (out of town)
OOT (out of town)
OOT (out of town)
DESSERT
 
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

One of my favorites from PF CHANG’S is their Teriyaki Chicken and Fried Rice!

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • ITALIAN GRINDER SALAD
  • APPLE PIE DUMPLINGS

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPE LINKS week 40 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.279

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

GOOD MORNING!! Welcome, grab some coffee and let’s chat.

We went to the Farmer’s Market and Oktoberfest on Saturday, but it was pretty rainy and we ended up quickly only picking up what I needed for the menu and heading out to a neighboring town for lunch with a stop along the way at a favorite junk store where I scored a few favorite things and a couple pieces of “brand new” vintage ™Tupperware.

WOW, is it really the first Monday in October already? Last week was busy, BUT, I did something yesterday that I’m always threatening to do, but rarely get the chance to. I got up without an alarm, made coffee, threw things in the slow cooker for some soup, wrote some recipes, watched a NASCAR race and a football game before I ever considered taking a shower and getting dressed. It was the most relaxed I have been in months!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Today is going to be gorgeous (high 70’s) as is tomorrow and then we take a MAJOR dip in temperatures (low 50’s) and some more rain. I’m good with that as I just finished washing and hanging my cold weather gear.

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Despite taking and relaxing all day yesterday I was able to do the laundry. Tomorrow is cleaning day after taco Tuesday.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m headed to the grocery store in a bit as well as run errands. I’m hoping to finish cleaning out the rest of the estate sale items today and tomorrow for delivery to the abused women’s center on Wednesday. Our auxiliary is supporting this center this year and going out of our way to send them everything we can.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS I made our reservations for the trip to the Junk Hunt and antiquing with my girlfriend.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m delving into my new recipe box of tricks with high hopes for some new fall recipes. I’m also going to be joining in on A Simple Life’s BLOGTOBER prompts where I can.
  • DVR/TV The new season has began, but we have yet to get into a routine. I have been keeping up with Halloween Wars and Halloween Baking Championship so far.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
10/6 MONDAY
10/7 TUESDAY
10/8 WEDNESDAY
10/9 THURSDAY
10/10 FRIDAY
10/11 SATURDAY
10/12 SUNDAY
DINNER
TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
I’m cooking PORK POZOLE at the Eagles
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH SOUP
CHICKEN MARSALA BAKE
CORN/YOYO Clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own – cooking GRAN’S CHICKEN & NOODLES at the Eagles with PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BARS
CRANBERRY CHICKEN (SLOW COOKER)
MUSHROOM BEEF STROGANOFF (SLOW COOKER)
DESSERT
 
MAGIC COOKIE BARS
BLUE CARROT BUNDT CAKE
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Most of you know how much I LOVE old handwritten recipes and then re-creating them. We are going to a Great Junk Hunt in a couple weeks and I will search for more, BUT we stopped in a favorite little junk store to browse during last Saturday’s rain and I made an early score with not one, but two boxes stuffed full of yummy recipes, most of which were not only dated but had names like Aunt Helen’s… as well as descriptive adjectives like “excellent – make again”. Plus, they were really cute boxes in great shape.

I’ve sorted them out to those I want to re-create for myself and the blog and have an additional stack that will be coming your way Jean. 🙂

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

Fantasy Landscape in the road on a cloudy day

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • EVERYMAN STEAKS, MUSHROOM GRAVY & MUSTARD EGG NOODLES
  • BAKED CRACK CHICKEN

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPES week 38 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.265

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Hello lovely ladies! It’s not only a ‘BER month, but it’s also now officially FALL! I cannot tell you how happy that makes me! We welcomed it yesterday with temperatures in the 50’s and a little bit of rain 🙂

Saturday we went to the Farmer’s Market for all the produce I need for the week, did the grocery shopping, had a nice lunch at a favorite haunt, watered plants inside and out for a traveling friend, met with people buying a hutch from her (of course they called to do it while she was gone) and met up with another friend for a drink and dinner. All in all a really relaxed day and weekend!

Sunday started by having brunch with friends and since it was still cool, rainy and a Sunday after brunch, I spent the day watching football, researching recipes and preparing a few ideas for BLOGMAS 2025. Yes, I said BLOGMAS. Can you believe we are 3/4 of the way through this year?

BLOGMAS 2025 begins in 66 days which means, just for your information, that Christmas is only 94 days away! I’m planning to add a daily tip or idea this year to help keep the homespun and positive ideas flowing throughout the season.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Fall has arrived with ACTUAL fall weather! The night time lows are now dipping into the 40’s which makes the predicted 80 degree highs almost laughable since it takes until 3PM to get there and they only last about an hour because it’s supposed to be partly cloudy all week 🙂 Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Fall?

TO DO, APPOINTMENTS, DVR/TV & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS, APPOINTMENTS & DVR/TV
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Even though yesterday was a lazy day I did manage to get 3 loads of laundry done. I’ll be doing some deep cleaning tomorrow after the antique guy picks up the furniture for consignment.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS All caught up except for the Eagle’s shopping which I’ll do after my early morning test appointment on Wednesday.
  • PROJECTS & TRAVELS We are planning a trip with friends for the 3rd week in October to do some junk hunting and antiquing. We’re also beginning to plan that long awaited to trip to visit family that we cancelled when my step dad fell ill.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m all planned through October and looking forward to late fall recipes when we return from out trip.
  • DVR/TV The new fall shows begin this week, but I haven’t even begun to research what I want to watch.

READING TIME

I just finished BOOK WOMAN of  TROUBLESOME CREEK and am about to start THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER BY Kim Michelle Richardson.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
9/22 MONDAY
9/23 TUESDAY
 9/24 WEDNESDAY
9/25 THURSDAY
9/26 FRIDAY
9/27 SATURDAY
9/28 SUNDAY
DINNER
MEETING NIGHT CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
CORN/YOYO
clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own
AUTUMN SALAD
LINGUINI & MEATBALLS in CREAM SAUCE with GREEN BEANS
GREEN ENCHILADA CHICKEN SOUP
SAUCY BAKED CHICKEN & COLESLAW
DESSERT
 
BLUEBERRY CARROT BUNDT CAKE
 

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • BAKED MONTE CRISTO SANDWICHES
  • HAWAIIAN FRIED RICE
  • HAWAIIAN COLESLAW

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS