Happy Homemaker Monday June 2 2014

Good morning! It is a beautiful spring day and life has been busy! The last two months of school can get crazy, especially for seniors. It is a year of firsts and lasts for my high school senior. Lots has been happening and it's all good. Thanks to Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for hosting Happy Homemaker Monday!

As I Look Outside My Window

I see color! I am always at my kitchen table when on my laptop, and right next to me is our sliding glass door that leads to our deck. Beyond the deck it is full of green leaves with little bits of blue sky peaking through the gaps. Through the front windows I can see the leaves of the daylillies along our rock wall and our front garden and the pink blossoms on the azalea bushes. Oh, how I love to see color when I look outside!

Right Now I Am

Watching a butterfly flit around the deck as I sit at the table. 

Thinking and Pondering

How I am going to manage everything this week. My washing machine is broken, it looks like it is the water pump and I have to wait until Wednesday morning for a repair man. We have a crazy, busy schedule this week on top of that.

On My Bedside Table

I have restarted Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings on my Kindle. I started it the first time last summer but never finished it. 

On My TV This Week

We finished Madmen's last season and I've caught up on Parenthood. Just have Glee to catch up on now. And I've had a hankering for Harry Potter because the books and movies have always been a part of our summer. I have the set on my Kindle so perhaps I should read them first. I do love J K Rowling's writing.

Listening to

Just the sound of the freezer running right now.

On the Menu For This Week

I never followed May's plan and will probably be using some of those menu items for this week. You can find May's menu here.

On My To Do List

Well, it won't be laundry! Actually, I hope to wash the shelves in my fridge because it is pretty empty right now and a good time to do it. Then, of course, I need to get to the store to put some food back on those shelves!

Happening This Week

This afternoon one son is participating in the state track meet because his relay team won gold at our local league championships last week, so my mother and I will be going to that (just to see the one race, otherwise we would be there all day). Tomorrow night is fine arts night at the school where one of my other sons is playing in the band and my daughter is singing in the chamber choir. Wednesday hopefully my washer will get fixed but I am anticipating a part will need to be ordered... at night is youth group at church but I think my daughter can drive everyone to that. Thursday I have the rest of a root canal (joy!). Friday is a phone meeting with DCF (I have a foster son). Saturday two sons have to be driven almost an hour away to the scout camp they will be working at this summer, dropped off and then picked up (3 hours of driving?). Sunday is seminary graduation for 3 of my students, including my daughter. Plus my nephew and his wife and ADORABLE 5 month daughter are visiting so I MUST make time to visit them some more. (We spend yesterday at my sister's house for a big family picnic which was wonderful.)

My Simple Pleasure

Kissing the top of the head of a sweet, sweet baby.

Homemaking Tips

Here is my quick and efficient (imo) method to cleaning bathrooms:

• shake out rugs (right in the bathroom, it's too long of a walk to go outside)
• vacuum floor
• take garbage pail liner out, hang on door (if you use plastic grocery bags like me)
• use microfiber cloth to dust off items on vanity, pile in garbage pail, place right outside bathroom door
• use disposable duster (like swiffer) to dust lights, mirror, countertops, hanging pictures, window sill, then sink, then toilet)
• clean inside toilet bowl
• fill sink with warm water, sprinkle in a little Borax, swish water to dissolve
• wipe sink, countertop, faucet with microfiber cloth dipped in water from sink, door and cabinet handles, light switches, then toilet
• drain sink and swish some water around to rinse
• dry sink with hand towel then use damp hand towel to wipe any spots off of mirror and to buff faucet
• quick second vacuum of floor
• mop floor
• done!
• (I clean my shower with a magic eraser while I am in there. If I am really good I will do one wall a day. Once in awhile I will spray the walls and door area with bleach gel right before getting out and let it sit.)

Looking Around the House

There are some papers to put away, but I managed to give the main floor a good vacuuming Saturday so it is looking pretty good.

From the Camera

My daughter's last dance recital. I loved watching her perform because she has great stage presence (and received special recognition for that too). 

Prayer List
My kids.

Bible Verse
John 14:15  "If ye love me, keep my commandments." It's as simple as that!

Have a great week!

A Cold, Rainy Spring Day =

Happy Homemaker Monday May 19 2014

I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom once again for Happy Homemaker Monday. I am grateful to have seen her post on Facebook or else I would have forgotten all about it. I took my daughter to the doctor for a physical - she is 17 and going to college in the fall so we decided it was time switch from her pediatrician (although we loved her) to a general practitioner. Just another step to adulthood. Sigh.

As I Look Outside My Window
It is a beautiful, sunny day. Right now the temperature is only 59 degrees, but it is supposed to rise another 10. This week temps should be in the upper 60's and lower 70's which is perfect for me. Some rain showers in the evenings which is not perfect for my plans to grill this week, grr. But, the leaves are on the trees and are a beautiful green, so life is good.

Right Now I Am
Listening to my son snoring on the couch. He is in limbo right now because they closed the office where he worked and he hasn't found anything else yet. I am waiting to say goodbye to my husband who is off to Chicago for work this week, and I can see a very messy house due to a very busy weekend.

Thinking and Pondering
That I am grateful for my daughter. She is an amazing young woman - so sure of herself, a hard worker, well rounded, healthy individual. We are celebrating a lot of lasts and firsts with her this year as she graduates high school and prepares to go off to college. She had her last dance recital yesterday and was a joy to watch. She is not my oldest but will be the first to leave the nest. It is bittersweet.

On My Bedside Table
My kindles and Verizon tablet (gift from my son). I am reading The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W Durrow.

On My TV This Week
Right now we are just watching Madmen. I only continue to watch it because I am invested in the characters, but I only care what happens to the women.

Listening to
No music at the moment. I can hear my husband moving around upstairs as he packs for his trip. My son woke up and left to get the oil changed in the car, so no more snoring!

On the Menu
Sigh, I try, I really do, but everyone's schedules make it really hard. Since my husband will be away, I will try to make it simpler and continue to use as much of what I have on hand as possible. I want to whittle away my freezer stock so I can clean them out and start fresh. So I am not going to post a menu since it will be a little of this and a little of that and no new recipes.

On My To Do List
Pick up around the house, go to the bank and the gas station, wash towels. I am still working on spring cleaning the upstairs, which constitutes going through drawers and closets to weed things out. This year I am being smart by starting up there because once summer comes it is too warm.

Happening This Week
My daughter rattled off a lot of stuff yesterday and now I cannot remember! One son has track every day after school, so that is a given. He usually gets a ride home; if not, I have to pick him up at the middle school. My daughter works right after school at a daycare, but since she is driving she usually gives my other son a ride home. Anyway, the rest of the week looks like this (from what I remember):
Tuesday - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony for my daughter
Wednesday - Youth Group for three of my kids
Thursday - Boy Scouts, husband comes home
Friday - Senior prom for my daughter!

My Simple Pleasure
Having the island in my kitchen clear so I can fold laundry on it.

Homemaking Tips
This is more a lifestyle tip than homemaking. Learn to say no. When your kids get involved with school and extra curricular activities, will you see a lot of supermoms who seem to do it all. Maybe they do, but know your limits and don't feel guilty. Yes, help where you can, but know yourself well enough to know when to draw the line.

Looking Around the House
Time for a ten second tidy!

From the Camera
There has been so much activity, it will take me a few weeks to catch up. Our church holds its own prom for the high school aged youth and my kids invited a lot of their friends to come. This is my favorite picture - capturing the selfies.

Prayer List

My kids, my husband as he travels.

Bible Verse

Proverbs 15:13  "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."  We had a talk in church yesterday about finding happiness in life, and it occurred to me that we really can find happiness all of the time if we do these two things: recognize the Lord's hand in our lives in all things and express gratitude, and live so that we may have the Spirit with us. So I am going to work on those two things.

Have a wonderful week!

Happy Homemaker Monday May 12 2014

Good morning! I missed last week and I don't know why. Spring has finally arrived in New England and my sneezing son is proof. We have to take the bad with the good, don't we? Thank you Sandra from Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for hosting!

As I Look Outside My Window
The sun is shining! We had a lot of rain last week and now the grass is green and lush and the flowers are blooming (and, yes, there is pollen everywhere).

Right Now I Am
Sitting at my kitchen table. There is a box of Dunkin Donuts munchkins on the table, along with my two Kindles and my new tablet that my son gave me for Mother's Day. I am fooling around with the tablet now, downloading apps that I want, and it may replace my Kindle Fire. We will see, I am very partial to Amazon.

Thinking and Pondering
Nothing deep, I am watching the clock because I have to pick up my son from school. He took an AP test this morning and gets to go home early. Trouble is, he needs a ride. However, my oldest is home, so I may just not have to drive to the school for a second time this morning!

On My Bedside Table
I have been working on cleaning my room, and yes, it is a week long project because it is the catchall room of the house. There still is a plastic bin full of my son's childhood books that he wants to keep. It has been there for a year. Anyway, my nightstand now has only the essentials: my lamp, my cell phone, my two Kindles, and now my tablet. Right now I am reading I Am Livia, by Phyllis T. Smith. It was a free book offered to Amazon Prime members. Oh, and I bought a Kindle Paperwhite. The one problem with the Kindle Fire is that the battery doesn't last long. Plus I have so many other things on there that I get distracted from reading a book. So now the Paperwhite is my reader of choice. Plus the screen is easier on the eyes.

On My TV
Still have to catch up on Parenthood and Glee. My husband and I started watching last season's Madmen on Netflix.

Listening To
Nothing at the moment.

On the Menu
My menu can be found here. I am a week behind because my husband was travelling last week and so I kept dinner simple and used what I had in the freezer. Love that I have all of these days planned and I all I have to do is make up a grocery list! Most, if not all, of my menu comes from a cookbook I have called Remedies for the "I Don't Cook" Syndrome. The recipes I have tried are really good, so I decided to try more of them! I will post the ones that I want to use regularly.

On My To Do List
Laundry, as always, vacuum main floor, mop, clean main floor bathroom. Stop at grocery store for lunchmeat.

Happening This Week
This week is relatively calm. Grease is over (3 of my kids performed in it).
Monday - lunch with my oldest. He is taking me to Moe's because I have never been.
Tuesday - other son's track meet
Wednesday - DCF visit, church youth group, daughter has dress rehearsal for her dance recital but she drives herself.
Thursday - Boy Scouts for sons, dance for daughter, nephew's band concert for my husband and I.
Friday - open!
Saturday - lunch with my mom and sister at The Cheesecake Factory
Sunday - my daughter's dance recital. Her last one! 14 years of dance. This year she is featured in 6 dances.

My Simple Pleasure
Milkshakes.  I have a Ninja blender and we go a little crazy with the milkshakes once it gets warm.

Homemaking Tips
Bag it. I love bags as much as I love Amazon. I have a tote bag for my seminary stuff. I have a bag for library books. Everything that I may want to take somewhere, I try to store in bags, that way it is ready to go.

Looking Around the House
There is always stuff lying around. It is amazing how much better that problem can be with just one less person in the house too. When my husband was away the counters stayed clear, and he is not a messy person!

From the Camera
(and mom's brag book) from Grease, they played Johnny Casino, Sandy, and Kenickie

Prayer List
Always my kids, my husband.

Bible Verse
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." John 10:11

It never ceases to amaze me how well the Lord knows me individually. I need to remember that when I am feeling alone or overwhelmed with burdens. He knows me and knows how to help me, all I have to do is ask, and then listen.

Have a great week!

Monthly Menu May

 1  Thur     Happy birthday hubby! Steak, baked potatoes, broccoli, salad, birthday cake
 2  Fri        grilled chicken, orzo salad, corn
 3  Sat        performance night again - dinner out?
 4  Sun       Hearty Cream of Chicken Soup, biscuits
 5  Mon     Pasta with crock pot meat sauce
 6  Tue      Chicken Provence, rice, green beans
 7  Wed     French Bread Pizza
 8  Thu      Red Pork Chops, baked potatoes, peas, coleslaw
 9  Fri     Shrimp Linguini, salad (just G and I)
10  Sat    Girl's night out!
11 Sun  
12  Mon  
13  Tue     Mandarin Chicken, rice, green beans
14  Wed     hamburgers, Zucchini Carrot Casserole
15  Thu     Grilled pork tenderloin, egg noodles, carrots
16  Fri     Salmon, orzo salad, corn, strawberry shortcake
17  Sat    Mother's Day dinner?
18  Sun     Vegetable beef soup, rolls (make ahead, Dance Recital)
19  Mon  
20  Tue     Mexican Fiesta Biscuit Bake (have missionaries over), rice, green beans
21  Wed     Cilantro, Chicken, and Black Bean Salad
22  Thu     New England Ribs, macaroni salad, corn
23  Fri     Easy Baked Fish, salad, rice, zucchini (senior prom!)
24  Sat  
25  Sun     Taco soup, nachos
26  Mon     Grilled Surf & Turf, baked potatoes, broccoli, strawberry shortcake
27  Tue     Cranberry Chicken, rice, green beans
28  Wed     Hot dogs, potato salad
29  Thu     Spaghetti with marinara sauce, salad
30  Fri     Cheddar Tuna Pie, cauliflower, gingersnaps
31  Sat  

Happy Homemaker Monday April 28 2014

Good morning! I took a look back to see the last time I participated and it was December! Oh, it's been busy. Now that tax season is over I need to start spring cleaning, so it is time to get back into homemaking mode. Thank you, Sandra, for hosting this every week. See her at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, she is a huge inspiration to me.

As I Look Outside My Window
The sun is shining! It is still cold around here (38 degrees this morning) - I hope this means we will have a mild summer because it was a looooong winter! It is supposed to get up to 64 degrees today. There are still no buds on the trees, but the flowers are growing and we actually have one that has bloomed. Even though I suffer from pollen allergies, I look forward to the color that will be bursting forth soon.

Right Now I Am
Thinking of my to do list and wishing I could just take a quick nap first...!

Thinking and Pondering
Mostly about our busy week, and how I have to go to the auto parts store to buy a new gas cap for our car. Put gas in it this morning and drove away with it on top of the car. I blame it on not being fully awake - it was 5:15 in the morning after all! We went back to look for it but I didn't see it.

On My Bedside Table
My kindle, always! And I actually read an entire book, start to finish! It is called Opposites Attack and was just a delightful, quick read.

On My TV
We haven't watched it in forever. I want to catch up on Glee, Parenthood, and last season's Mad Men. I cannot even remember the last movie I watched, probably Catching Fire and The Book Thief.

Listening To
Just the clock ticking.

On the Menu for this Week
I have been posting that separately, one month at a time, so just scroll down for that. (I don't plan for a whole month at a time, but just add to it as a plan for the week.)

On My To Do List
Bank, auto parts store, grocery stores, gas for the van, wash towels, and put away one load of clothes that has been in the basket for several days.

Happening This Week
Oh, it's a busy one! All three of my high school students are performing in its production of the musical Grease this weekend! My daughter is Sandy, one son is Kenickie, and another son is Johnny Casino. They will have rehearsals every day this week. Fortunately my daughter drives, so all it means for me is to make sure I have a good dinner on the table for them! Then on Friday and Saturday nights we will be at the school watching the performance! Normally they have other activities as well, but those will be put on hold until the show is over.

My Simple Pleasure
My co-worker just sold his house and is moving out of state. We bought his living room furniture. I am telling you this because my new simple pleasure is reading a good book on his stuffed chair in my living room. It is my new favorite place to be.

Homemaking Tip
Keep a list! I have one near our refrigerator for my grocery list. My kids are older (20-15) and if we run out of something I tell them to write it on the list or do without.

Looking Around the House
My husband just came back from the physical therapist and is at the kitchen sink getting his lunch ready. There is stuff to put away and vacuuming to do.

From the Camera
The first color in our yard

On My Prayer List

My kids, always, and the tornado victims.

Bible Verse

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

I cannot tell you how much I rely on this scripture. It has been my mantra, if you will, for several years, and is a great comfort to me in these troubled times.

Have a great week!

Monthly Menu - April

What happened to mid-March to mid-April?

Work, that's what happened.

And it's been ugly in the homemaking department, let me tell you.

My family hasn't had a home cooked meal in forever.

So now it is time to get back to it!

21  Mon     raviolis, broccoli salad (broccoli & black olives tossed in Italian dressing, garlic bread, milk shakes for dessert (we have to move some furniture, so this has to be a quick dinner)

22  Tue     baked pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans

23  Wed     chicken soup (perhaps for the last time this season!), biscuits

24  Thu     tacos, corn

25  Fri       dinner out, the kids have a talent show at our church

26  Sat      boys fend for themselves, Mom has a woman's event at church and gets fed!

27  Sun     

28  Mon    pasta with meat sauce, salad, Italian bread

29  Tue     pulled chicken, baked beans, macaroni salad

30  Wed    tacos, rice