Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 10/7/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.

How was your first week of October?  Mine was good but busy, busy, busy!

Here's to the week ahead!

The weather outside is:

After many, many days of rain (I really shouldn't complain), we have been having some beautiful Fall weather.  It is supposed to cool off a good bit this week.  Look at those night temperatures in the 30s!  I don't know if I'm ready for that.  We'll be starting the furnace sooner rather than later, I guess!

On today's to-do list:

Monday's tasks are fold laundry, sweep, reschedule a few upcoming appointments, make supper, dishes and other homemaking tasks.

Happening this week:

I finally got word that I start my new part-time job Wednesday.  I'll be working three 6.5 hour days a week.  My normal working days will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  So, I"ll basically have a 4 day weekend every week :)

Other than getting into that routine, it should be a fairly normal week.  

Currently reading:

I'm getting ready to start reading "70 NORTH" by Kimberley Woodhouse for a book review blog tour I'm participating in.  I haven't read the first 2 books in this series so I'm very interested to see how well it can be read as a stand alone book.

To see more about my reading week and my book haul, please go HERE to check out My Weekly Bookishness post!

Are we friends on Goodreads?  You can find my Goodreads profile HERE.

Listening to:

Lainey Wilson's new song 4X4XU is so catchy.  If you like Lainey and/or cowboys and/or horses check out this video :)  Enjoy!

Watching:

Last night the hubby and I watched "Fall Guy" about a stunt man.  I vaguely remember a TV show by the same name when I was a kid.  It was a fun movie but it did have some language.  It is so hard to find a good movie without bad language anymore :(

I also watched the first episode of "The Summit', a reality show where 16 people have to hike to the top of a summit in New Zealand within 14 days.  There's money involved and a lot of plotting.  I think I'll continue to watch the show.

I'm also looking forward to the new shows starting back up next week.

In the Kitchen:

Our church ladies made pies all day Thursday and Friday.  I believe we had around 50 pies and we had not a oneleft at the end of Homecoming Celebration.  My Mom and I also made a pan of peanut butter fudge and a pan of chocolate fudge.  The recipe we use is SO good.  It makes the best fudge I've ever had.  If you're interested in the recipe let me know in the comments :)

In the Craft Basket:

I finished crocheting all 35 squares for the Japanese Fields Afghan.  I even got the blocks joined while watching "Fall Guy".  I'll be working on the borders this week.

I've already gone through my stash and picked out some colors for my next afghan which I am dubbine "Stashghan 2024".  Let me know what you think of these colors together.

Picture(s) from the Camera

After a week of solid rain, the sun finally came out on Wednesday evening as I was going to Bible Study/Prayer Meeting.  I had to stop and take a picture of the sight.  It makes me wonder how Noah and his family felt seeing the sun again after 40 days of rain!

Prayer Requests

~Continued prayers for Laken as she has a full workload this school year.

~As always, prayers for the safety and well-being of all school/college kids.  (continued)

~Our Country, our Leaders and the Election coming in November.  (continued)

~I've been following along with Sandra and praying for my husband.  I always pray for him, but I'm loving the specific prayers for specific needs instead of a general "be with him".  So, I'm asking for prayers for my husband and for the husbands of all my readers.

Bible Verse

"Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock."  Isaiah 26:4 (NASB)

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/26/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.  

The first week of Laken's Senior Year is in the books!  I feel kind of old.

I was looking at all the obligatory first day of school pictures that everyone was posting on Facebook.  There were a lot of Seniors and even College students but I also saw lots of little ones getting on the school bus or outside their school for the first time.

I guess I've just always seen myself as a young mom.  I have to come to the realization that I'm old enough (more than old enough) to be a ,,,  GRANDMOTHER!  Settle down!  No one is pregnant.  (to my knowledge ).  I have to move on or I'm going to get super depressed about my babies being grown!

Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)

The weather outside is:

Summer is back.  That is all.

On today's to-do list:

I'm off work at my job today so I get to be a Happy Homemaker all day!  I got most of my to-do list done on Friday, my last day off as I had to work both Saturday and Sunday.  My list for today will be to wash my work shirts, fold laundry, take Laken to and from school, practice driving with Laken in the afternoon, alter a few dresses I got at the thrift shop and anything else that comes my way.  I might even take a nap.  Wouldn't that be glorious!?!

Happening this week:

I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.  I work the early shift which is good for taking Laken to school in the mornings.

I have hopes of it being a fairly quiet week with just the normal activities.  We don't have any appointments this week which is a good thing.

Currently reading:

Only my devotional and Bible.

I just watched a movie about a Book Club (more about that later) and it really has me missing the Kindred Readers Book Club that I used to co-host on Facebook.  Does anyone belong to a good Book Club that you could point me to?  I need a REALLY good book to get me hooked and back in to reading.

Listening to:

Enjoy!

Watching:

My babies grow up!  Here is the First Day of Kindergarten Picture next to the First Day of Senior Year picture.

  

As I mentioned above, we watched "Blind Date Book Club" and it was so cute!  It was about a bookstore owner who hosted a "mystery" book club by wrapping the books with paper and just putting a blurb on the front to intrigue people into reading the book.  If they liked the book (or not) they could come share their thoughts on the book.  Erin Krakow was the leading lady and I really enjoy her movies.  Let me know if you saw it or if you're going to go watch it now that you've heard about the movie :)

I've also been watching some new YouTube channels featuring "sewists" which have me itching to get my sewing machine out!

In the Kitchen:

Friday I had supper in the oven and decided while the oven was hot to try a second variation of the cinnamon roll "cobbler".  A few week ago I made one with apple pie filling and it was SO very good!

This time I had picked chocolate chips and pecans!

I cut the cinnamon rolls in fours, melted a stick of butter, added brown sugar and cinnamon plus about half a bag of chocolate chips and stirred it all together.

I only put the pecans on half the cobbler because not everyone in the house likes them (Laken).  It turned out so delicious!  I might have over-done it with the stick of butter because there was a lot of oeey gooey goodness.  I was going to wipe it off the plate to make the picture look more professional but decided to leave it as is to show the yumminess!

I haven't decided what to make this week.  Any suggestions?

In the Craft Basket:

I'm e...v...e...r so slowly working on Japanese Fields blocks.

I also want to alter a few dresses I got at the thrift store as I mentioned above.  The first dress is just too big and shapeless.  I think I'll take the sides in and maybe add a belt.  The second dress has straps and peekaboo shoulders that hand WAY too low on my shoulders.  I'm thinking of just cutting off the peekaboo shoulders and wearing a shrug over top of it as I wouldn't feel comfortable without one.  

Picture from the Camera

Prayer Request

Please keep my work situation in your prayers.  I absolutely do not like having to work on Sunday morning but it seems like they keep scheduling me to work then.

Laken is now taking 4 college courses.  Please pray that she does well with them and that she stays healthy.

As always, prayers for the safety and well-being of all those going back to school.

Bible Verse

"First of all then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."  I Timothy 2: 1-2  NASB

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/19/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.  

I almost missed posting today!  I usually will sit down on Sunday evening and type up my Happy Homemaker post but I was just too tired yesterday.  I decided that a nap was what was needed for that moment.

Then today, Monday, I was busy working from 10a-4p and then this evening we had Laken's very last High School Open House.  She was just going to go with her friends but we (the hubby and I) have been to every single one of her open houses and decided we weren't going to miss this one either.

There is officially one more day of Summer Vacation here in our house then the school year begins.  Where has the time gone?  I feel like I ask this question all the time but it seriously feels like the weeks fly by.  Fall is in the air!

Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)

The weather outside is:

This morning when I went outside to go to work, it definitely felt like the beginnings of  Fall.  It was warm but the breeze was cool.  I think the highest the temperature got today was 73F.  Tomorrow looks to be even cooler but then it gets a bit warmer toward the end of the week.  We've been getting rain here and there but on Sunday afternoon it absolutely dumped the rain.  It was as if someone were pouring the rain out of a bucket instead of being raindrops!  At least the grass has gotten green again :)

On today's to-do list: 

I had to work 10a-4p.  I keep telling myself that when I work this shift, I will get up early and get something accomplished before heading out the door.  Inevitably, I end up sleeping until I absolutely HAVE to get up to get ready.

As I mentioned above, this evening we had Laken's Senior Open House.  When we got home I jumped in the shower and then sat down at my desk to have my devotion time and now type this post.

Happening this week:

Counting today, I work 4 days in a row this week: M-TH.  I have Friday off but then work Saturday 7a-1p and Sunday 9a-2p.  My work schedule is really strange next week.  I'm also not happy about work on Sunday again  :(

Tuesday should be a fairly relaxing evening unless Laken decides that she needs last-minute items for school.  Other than that I have nothing planned.

Wednesday is the first day of school.  I need to make sure to get up early enough to get first day pictures.  I have the name "necklace" that Laken made on her first day of Kindergarten and I want to get a picture of her with it on.

Currently reading:

Only my devotional and Bible.

I do want to take a moment to mention a new blog I've been reading.  My oldest daughter, Kaylee, has started a brand new blog called Rants, Rambles and Reviews.  I would really appreciate it if you could go check it out and give her some blog-land love!

Listening to:

I really want to see TWISTERS!  Enjoy :)

Watching:

I managed to catch the last half of the Steelers preseason game against the Bills on Saturday evening.  We lost.  I ended up falling asleep for the last 10 or so minutes.

We watched a cute Christmas movie the other evening.  Now I'm not one to watch Christmas movies in the Summer, but I wanted to spend time with the hubby and he was already watching it.  The movie was about a "scroogette" who gets stuck in a Christmas movie.  A bit predictable, but aren't they all?   :)

In the Kitchen:

I was off last Friday, so I spent the day homemaking :)  One of my favorite things to do is bake.  I finally got a chance to make Zucchini Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins,  Yummy!  They were actually better the second day :)  If you'd like to check out the recipe you can click HERE.

In the Craft Basket:

I didn't even pick up my hook this week.  Please give me your opinion on whether to outline in Hot Rose or stay Ivory.

Picture from the Camera

Quackers getting a much needed bath :)

Prayer Request

My brother's surgery went well and he is on the mend.  Thank you for the prayers.

Please pray that Laken has a wonderful, healthy, fun and educational Senior Year!  She has had a rough go of it the past few years with being sick and having surgery.  We're really praying for an uneventful year!

Bible Verse

"God is the one I am trying to please."  Galatians 1:10 ERV

Have a great week!

Colletta

Happy Homemaker Monday ~ 8/12/2024

Come join Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday. 

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Hello and HAPPY Monday.  

I'm actually typing this post on Sunday evening when I have a bit of time to sit down and reflect on the week ahead.  Monday is actually going to be very busy even though I don't have to go to work.  I'll tell you a bit more about that later in the post.

Let's get on with today's Happy Homemaker :)

The weather outside is:

We finally got the much needed rain!  And we got a lot of it from good old Hurricane Debby.  Here in the mountains of Pennsylvania, we usually only get the rain and a bit of wind when hurricanes go up the east coast.  It absolutely poured and now the temperatures are much more comfortable.  It was actually a bit cool this morning when I left the house around 9am.

On today's to-do list: 

Monday's to-do are:

I'm off work Monday but like I mentioned above, I have lots to do.  

~We have a meeting at 9:30am to make sure everything is situated for Laken's enrollment in her college classes for the fall.  I think I mentioned before that she is doing what is called "Senior Challenge".  It basically means she'll be taking 2 high school classes and a few college classes in the mornings and then be able to leave school before lunchtime.  The college classes start on August 19th (next Monday!) so we have got to get this set up and find out exactly what she will need to complete her classes.

~Sweep

~Mop

~Clean out my car

~Supper

~Dishes

~Devotions

~Wash work clothes and hang up to dry

Happening this week:

This week I'm off Monday and  Friday and Sunday.  The rest of the days I work 7am-1pm.

Tuesday Laken has an appointment to get her Senior Pictures taken for the year book at 3:00pm.  Then Kaylee's work is having a Back-to-School Night that she invited us to come to.  It is 4pm-7pm and we get to take a tour of her work so I'm excited to see her office area.  Then at 6:30pm we have our Ladies' Class Meeting at Church.  So it will be a very busy day.

Wednesday is Kaylee and Shawn's 3rd Anniversary and Kona's (our chocolate lab) birthday :)

Thursday is pretty normal.

Friday (my day off) is once again filled to the brim.  Some items on the list are laundry, groceries, bills, bank and my usual daily to-dos.

Currently reading:

I didn't even touch "Living Slower" this week :(  I only have a few more chapters to go.  Hopefully I'll finish it soon.

Listening to:

Raise the battle cry and take back what the enemy stole!  Enjoy :)

Watching:

I tied to watch the Steeler preseason football game on Friday evening but it was on Prime.  We have Prime but the game was blacked out.  Apparently we live too close :(  argghh!  They lost anyway so I guess I didn't miss much...

Instead of the game, we watched a movie on Freevee about a wedding photographer at a family owned venue who falls in love with the movie-star best man/brother of the couple getting married.  I forget the name of it but it was really good.

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on why/how women are returning to wearing dresses/skirts.  One YouTuber (from Heavenly Minded Home) challenged her subscribers to wear a dress/skirt for 7 days in a row to really give it a try.  I've decided to take her up on it and this is my fourth day of wearing a dress except for while I'm at work. I even ordered a few new dresses because my wardrobe will be very limited if I continue to wear only dresses/skirts.

In the Kitchen:

I didn't make the Butterscotch Zucchini Bread this week but I did bake!  I made what I'd like to call "Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler" and it was so easy and VERY delicious.

You basically take cut up Cinnamon rolls, apple pie filling, brown sugar and cinnamon and mix it all together and bake it.  If you'd like a more formal recipe go check out this ONE at Olives & Thyme.

In the Craft Basket:

I've been working on the Japanese Fields blocks a bit each evening (well most evenings) but I'm just not sure what to do about the edges of the blocks.  The bottom block is with the Ivory outer round and the top block is with a single crochet of the Hot Rose.  Should I do a round of the Hot Rose on all the block and then join with either the Hot Rose or the Ivory?  Should I just keep it with the Ivory and then join with the Hot Rose?  Should I keep the last round Ivory and then join with Ivory?  I just can't decide!  I think I'll continue to work on just the main block for now and then decide later.  Please give me your opinion!

Picture from the Camera

You've got to give "Cinnamon Roll Apple Cobbler" a try!  The best was just out of the oven but it was also delicious the next morning for breakfast.  I put it the microwave for 20-30 seconds and it was warm and gooey and almost as good as fresh from the oven :)

Prayer Request

My brother, Danny, is having surgery Monday morning to remove his gallbladder. He is almost 48 year old (his birthday is Saturday) and he's never had surgery of any kind before. Not even a broken bone. Please keep him and his doctors in your prayers that all goes well. Also, please pray for my Mom as she's very nervous about her "Baby Boy" having surgery.

Bible Verse

"Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me.  Don't stop them!  For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children."  Luke 18:16 NLT

Have a great week!

Colletta

In the Kitchen ~ Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This coffee cake is one of the best coffee cakes I've ever eaten.  The pecan, chocolate and sour cream made it delicious and different from the usual coffee cake.  I made this to take to Bible Study and it was a hit!  My Uncle ate 3 pieces!  I'll definitely be making it again!

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Coffee Cake

1 package (12 oz) semi sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)

2 cups sugar, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 2/3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soada

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups sour cream

HEAT oven to 350F.  Grease 9X13 inch baking pan

MIX chocolate nuts, 2/3 cup of hte sugar and cinnamon, set aside.  Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and sale; set aside.

BEAT butter remaining 1/13 cups sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

ADD flour mixture alternately with sour cream, beating after each addition until smooth.

SPOON 1/2 of the batter into prepared baking pan.  Top with 1/2 of the chocolate-nut mixture.  Repeat layers.

BAKE 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

COOL in pan on wire rack.

Enjoy!

Colletta

In the Kitchen ~ Creamed Dried Beef

This week's new-to-me recipe from the Gooseberry Patch "Recipes for Comfort" cookbook is "Creamed Dried Beef".

I've had Creamed Dried Beef before but this was my first time making it.

I served it over toast and it was so good!

Creamed Dried Beef

1/4 lb dried beef
4 T. butter
3 T. all-purpose flour
1 cup hot milk
1 cup light cream
1/4 tsp pepper

Separate the dried beef slices, set aside.  (I cut mine up into pieces)

In a medium saucepan melt butter then sprinkle in flour.  Stir mixture until well blended.

Add milk and continue to cook over low heat, stirring frequently.

Slowly blend in cream, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and is smooth.

Add pepper and dried beef; stir and continue to heat until warmed throughout.

Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy!

Colletta

In the Kitchen ~ Irish Stew

This week's new-to-me recipe from the Gooseberry Patch "Recipes for Comfort" cookbook is "Irish Stew".

I'm a meat-and-potatoes kinda girls so this stew was right up my alley!

I served it with crescent rolls, a vegetable and a fruit.

This recipe was so easy to make and was so delicious!  It will definitely be made again and again :)

Irish Stew

5 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 lb ground beef, browned
1 cup water
1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 T Chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder

Place potatoes and beef in a Dutch oven.  Add water and bring to a light boil.

Add remaining ingredients and simmer on low for about 45 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

Next Saturday I'll be sharing an easy recipe for "Creamed Dried Beef"!

Have a great weekend!

Colletta

In the Kitchen ~ Virginia's Baked Spaghetti

Lately I've been trying new recipes to add to the old stand-bys.  I'm just getting sick of cooking and eating the same things all the time.  Do you ever get that way?

I sat down and went through the Gooseberry Patch "Recipes for Comfort" cookbook and made a list of recipes to try.  The recipe I'm featuring today is called "Virginia's Baked Spaghetti".

It had ground beef in it and a layer of a cheese sauce mixture that smelled amazing!

Here's a "before" picture of the "Virginia's Baked Spaghetti".

And an "after":

It was delicious paired with garlic bread sticks. 

Virginia's Baked Spaghetti

16 oz pkg spaghetti noodles, cooked
2  24-oz jars spaghetti sauce
2 lbs ground beef browned
4 T. butter
4 T. All purpose flour
4 T. grated Parmesan cheese
2 t. salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
12 oz can evaporated milk
3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded and divided

Combine spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce and ground beef together, set aside.

In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter; add flour, Parmesan cheese, salt and garlic.  Stir constantly over heat until smooth and bubbly.  Add evaporated mild and one cup Cheddar cheese; stir until thoroughly melted.

Pour half of the spaghetti noodle mixture into a 13X9 casserole dish and pour cheese mixture over top.

Pour remaining noodle mixture into casserole dish; top with remaining Cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350F for 25 to 30 minutes.

Makes 12 to 18 servings.

Next Saturday I'll be sharing a yummy recipe for "Irish Stew"!

Have a great weekend!

Colletta